Wests Tigers v Eels: Nofoaluma a chance; Paulo good to go
The Tigers were never really in the contest against a clinical Melbourne last week and require a big form reversal if they are going to finish another disappointing season with a bang.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire has chopped and changed his starting line-up throughout the season (often due to injuries) and it'll be interesting to see who gets the nod for the season finale.
Parramatta finally showed some urgency in last week's home win over Brisbane, but after building a 20-6 half-time lead they only managed six points in the second half and question marks remain.
The Eels are more talented across the park and have more to play for with the finals around the corner, but coach Brad Arthur will no doubt remind them that the Rabbitohs were in the same situation last week and they ended up as a Dogs dinner.
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
away Team
Eels
3rd Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Wests Tigers: The joint-venture club lines up 1-17 after Alex Seyfarth and Jacob Liddle were omitted an hour before kickoff. Luke Brooks has returned from suspension in the halves with Josh Reynolds out, Tommy Talau replacing Joey Leilua at centre, Alex Twal returning from illness at lock with Matt Eisenhuth going to the bench and Tom Mikaele moving to prop for the injured Josh Aloiai.
Luke Garner will start in the back row with Sam McIntyre (head knock) out while Elijah Taylor, Shawn Blore and Michael Chee Kam have joined the bench with Russell Packer and Jacob Liddle dropping out. Winger David Nofoaluma is expected to play despite limping off last round.
Reserves Josh Reynolds and Joey Leilua were the two players dropped from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Wests Tigers have lost four of their past five games at Bankwest Stadium.
Eels: Mass changes for Parramatta with William Smith, Kane Evans and Andrew Davey promoted from the bench to the starting side. Brad Takairangi shifts from five-eighth to centre with Smith replacing him in the halves, Shaun Lane and Daniel Alvaro drop back to the bench and George Jennings moves up from the reserves to the bench. Centre Michael Jennings and Haze Dunster are the match-day omissions.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jai Field were left out of the Parramatta team 24 hours before the match.
Junior Paulo returned to the starting side when the squad was named.
The Eels have won six of their past seven games against Wests Tigers.
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam DoueihiFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy TalauCentre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Chris LawrenceCentre for Eels is number 19 Brad Takairangi
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu KepaoaWinger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji MarshallFive-Eighth for Eels is number 14 Will Smith
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Zane MusgroveProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Thomas MikaeleProp for Eels is number 16 Kane Evans
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Eels is number 15 Andrew Davey
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex TwalLock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew EisenhuthInterchange for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah TaylorInterchange for Eels is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Shawn BloreInterchange for Eels is number 20 George Jennings
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee KamInterchange for Eels is number 21 Daniel Alvaro
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Luke Brooks v Mitch Moses. They were former teammates at the Tigers and both have experienced various highs and lows as first grade footballers. Brooks has never played finals football and won't get a taste this year. He is under increasing pressure to prove he is the club's long-term half-back.
Moses is a natural but has also copped his share of criticism during his career, mostly focusing on his inconsistency.
He will be looking forward to locking horns with his former teammate as the Eels have their final tune-up for the post-season.
Stat attack
Not only will the Tigers be keen to end 2020 on a high note, they will be in the hunt for some payback after going down 26-16 to the Eels in round 11.
The Tigers were in the game at half-time, but Shaun Lane scored early in the second half for Parra to make it 22-12 and they wrapped it up with Maika Sivo's second try 17 minutes from full-time. Tigers winger Tommy Talau crossed for a try at the death but it was all too late.
