Match Preview: NRL Round 2 vs Eels

Author: Wests Tigers
Timestamp: Wed 12 Mar 2025, 04:15 PM

Wests Tigers are boosted by the returns of several big-name players for their Round 2 clash against the Eels at CommBank Stadium.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 16 Mar

5:05 am

Eels

Wests Tigers

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

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On Sunday afternoon, Wests Tigers will look to bounce back from last weekend’s narrow 10-8 defeat to Newcastle, with Api Koroisau, Jahream Bula and Starford To’a all set to play their first matches of the 2025 season.

Koroisau has now served a suspension picked up in the last round of 2024, while Bula and To’a make their comebacks from injuries.

Jahream Bula returns for Wests Tigers in Round 2

For the Eels, Jordan Samrani, Shaun Lane and Kitione Kautoga take the places of Jake Tago, Kelma Tuilagi and Charlie Guymer, respectively.

Samrani will make his NRL debut on the wing after joining Parramatta from the Bulldogs in the 2025 pre-season.

In the last two matches between these sides, the Eels defeated Wests Tigers 60-26 in the final round of the 2024 regular season, while it was the Tigers who emerged victorious on Easter Monday with a nail-biting 17-16 win.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 16 Mar

5:05 am

Eels

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
Winger for Eels is number 2 Sean Russell

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
Centre for Eels is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
Winger for Eels is number 5 Jordan Samrani

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Ronald Volkman

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Joe Ofahengaue

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Brendan Hands

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jack Williams

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Alex Seyfarth
Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Ryley Smith

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Matt Doorey

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Kitione Kautoga

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jack Bird
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Sam Tuivaiti

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Sione Fainu

Reserves

Replacement for Eels is number 18 Dan Keir

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Charlie Staines
Reserve for Eels is number 19 Joash Papalii

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Latu Fainu
Reserve for Eels is number 20 Wiremu Greig

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Tristan Hope
Reserve for Eels is number 21 Joey Lussick

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tony Sukkar
Reserve for Eels is number 22 Charlie Guymer

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Solomona Faataape

Dan Keir
Joash Papalii
Joey Lussick
Jordan Samrani
Kitione Kautoga
Shaun Lane
Wiremu Greig

Apisai Koroisau
Charlie Staines
Jahream Bula
Starford To'a
Tony Sukkar

Jake Tago
Kelma Tuilagi
Toni Mataele

Heath Mason

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 3/11/2025 6:08:11 AM

Fast Facts

The Eels have won 10 of their past 12 games against Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers winger Sunia Turuva has scored four tries in his last two games against the Eels.
Eels centre Zac Lomax has scored seven tries in his past seven games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers have won their last two games at CommBank Stadium.

Stats supplied by NRL historian/statistician David Middleton.