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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 3, 2023 23:05:48 GMT 10
MONDAY 10th April: Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium, 4.00pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 14, 2023 20:19:42 GMT 10
Wests Tigers v Eels: Doueihi back to six; Lane ready to go
Can anyone smell the desperation?
It was only 12 months ago that Wests Tigers were 0-5 and staring down the barrel of six straight losses ahead of their clash with Parramatta on Easter Monday.
Fast forward a year and the joint venture are in the same boat but only this time they'll face an Eels outfit equally as desperate for victory after a 1-4 start to the year.
Parramatta, in their defence, have had a rough draw to start the year, and won't be panicking inside the four walls despite what's been said elsewhere.
A match-up against a Wests Tigers side lacking complete confidence is perhaps the game that's required while Tim Sheens' outfit must show something to make amends for last week's big loss to the Broncos.
An Easter Monday battle is always one for the diehards and with Mitchell Moses recently knocking back the club where it all started, it will only add to the intrigue.
No one will ever forget Jackson Hastings' one-point field goal to help end Wests Tigers' drought last season but with him no longer at the club, who will step up and lead them this year?
Team News
Wests Tigers: No late changes on game day after more shuffling in the backline at the selection table with Adam Doueihi going back to five-eighth and Charlie Staines to fullback. Brent Naden returns from illness at centre so Asu Kepaoa goes to the wing. Joe Ofahengaue has been added to the bench at the expense of Justin Matamua, who goes to 18th man. Tommy Talau (broken nose) remains sidelined.
Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes. Forward Shaun Lane returns after missing the opening five games due to a broken jaw so J'maine Hopgood goes to the bench. Haze Dunster comes in on the wing for Bailey Simonsson (suspended) while Sean Russell replaces Waqa Blake in the centres. Jake Arthur played NSW Cup alongside Blake is the 18th man for first grade.
Stat Attack
Wests Tigers have lost their last seven games at Accor Stadium.
The Eels have won eight of their past nine games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers are in danger of slumping to a 0-6 start to a season for the first time.
The Eels will play their 100th game at Accor Stadium.
Milestone Man
Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer will play his 200th NRL game on Monday, with the veteran forward showing no signs of slowing down with age. Klemmer has averaged 154 metres per game since his debut in 2013, topping more than 30,000 run metres for his career, while also averaging 26 tackles per game for a career total of 5,175. He'll be hoping to end a run of defeats in the Easter Monday blockbuster, having lost his last seven games with the Knights to end 2022 before beginning the 2023 campaign his new club with five losses.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 14, 2023 20:25:03 GMT 10
Moses sublime as Eels edge past Wests Tigers
A virtuoso performance from Mitchell Moses was the difference as the Eels scraped past a much-improved Wests Tigers side 28-22 in a thriller on Easter Monday.
Moses had the ball on a string as he set up four of his side's five tries – three from kicks and another with a looping cut-out pass – with the star half now boasting 10 wins in 12 games against the club he played 67 games for between 2014-17.
After the Eels got out to a 22-6 lead early in the second half, the Wests Tigers stormed back to close the gap to two points with 10 minutes to go, before Maika Sivo's second try of the game, and Moses' fourth conversion, confirmed Parramatta's second win of 2023.
While Moses was the best on ground, powerhouse Wests Tigers winger Junior Tupou wasn't far behind, with the 20-year-old enjoying his best game at NRL level so far, with a try, seven tackle busts and three line breaks.
Despite putting in their best showing of the year, the loss marks the first time in Wests Tigers history that they have started a season 0-6 and extends their winless streak to 11 games, dating back to the end of July last year.
There is also huge concern for five-eighth Adam Doueihi who suffered what appeared to be a serious leg or knee injury in the loss, while centre Brent Naden has a suspected broken collarbone.
Match Snapshot
Mitchell Moses had four try assists, ran for over 100 metres and kicked for over 500 metres in the win.
Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden suffered a suspected broken collarbone in the act of scoring his side's third try and failed to finish the match, while five-eighth Adam Doueihi suffered a leg or knee injury minutes later and was also ruled out.
Junior Tupou had a breakthrough game at first-grade level, powering to 221 metres in addition to scoring a try, making three line breaks and breaking seven tackles.
After soaking up some early pressure the Eels scored first after a brilliant Mitchell Moses grubber was claimed by Dylan Brown who offloaded for Clint Gutherson to cross.
Moses played the key role in the next one too, first making a break to put his side in good field position, before kicking for Will Penisini to score a few tackles later.
Starford To'a got one back for the home side 16 minutes from the breaking, scooping up a wayward Paramatta pass to run 70 metres untouched.
But for the third time in the half a Moses kicked ended in a Parramatta try, this time for back-rower Bryce Cartwright.
With his side up 18-6 at the break, Moses laid on another, this time with a looping pass to Maika Sivo, before the Wests Tigers hit back through Asu Kepaoa.
A third try from Naden, and a Doueihi conversion from out wide, reduced the gap to six with 15 minutes to go.
Tupou then scored to make it a two-point game, but with Doueihi off the field the sideline conversion was left to Api Koroisau who missed to the right.
Luke Brooks kicked a penalty with two minutes left to make it a one-score game again, but his side couldn't close the gap in the end.
The game marked David Klemmer's 200th NRL appearance.
The Wests Tigers have now lost their last seven games at Accor Stadium, while the Eels have won eight of their past nine games against their western Sydney rivals.
Play of the Game
It was a sign of things to come as Mitchell Moses laid on a brilliant assist to open the scoring at Accor Stadium. The clever in-field grubber showed great skill from Moses, but equally good vision from his halves partner Dylan Brown who popped up at the perfect time and then offloaded to a waiting Clinton Gutherson.
What They Said
"I am very, very proud of the effort they put in. [Moses] was crucial, general kicking, the three tries from kicks, and his goalkicking... when it's your day it's your day isn't it? Three tries from kicks, after last week and the kicking efforts of Brisbane, that disappoints us because we put a lot of time into it." – Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens
"He [Moses] kicked them to death and started the second half with another try assist, he was very good today. I haven't looked at the numbers yet, but I know how much defence we had to do, they had a fair bit of ball on our try line. It's a hard one to get a read on and the boys were pretty flat in the sheds after the game. Positives out of it are we got the two points, we got no injuries and we didn't get anyone suspended." – Eels coach Brad Arthur
What's Next
A bye next week offers the Wests Tigers a chance to reflect on what's gone wrong and what they can change ahead of returning to action against the Sea Eagles in Round 8. Parramatta meanwhile are back at home on Sunday, taking on the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium.
NRL.com
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Post by Electric Eel on Apr 14, 2023 20:27:58 GMT 10
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