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It's only round six but this Easter Monday duel should be a great test for both teams for different reasons.

The Eels went to Canberra intending to make a statement last week, only to be sent home with plenty to think about after a 19-0 shutout.

Teams make it a goal every year to avoid two losses on the trot and that's the challenge facing Parra this week.

The Tigers got the better of the Broncos last week in a gutsy come-from-behind win and have shown they're a team that usually won't beat itself - not withstanding their patchy effort in round three against the Bulldogs.

This game could go either way.

The Rundown

Team news

Eels: Josh Hoffman replaces Blake Ferguson (ribs) on the wing, and Peni Terepo starts with Tepai Moeroa moving back to the bench, Kane Evans also dropped out of the 19-man squad on game day. Two new faces on the interchange bench for Brad Arthur with 19-year-old Oregon Kaufusi and 21-year-old Ray Stone coming in for Kane Evans and David Gower who have been named as reserves. Stone made one NRL appearance in 2018 and Kaufusi has played just four games. David Gower and Greg Leleisuiao were the two players left out on the eve of the match.

Wests Tigers: Not surprisingly, Michael Maguire has kept last week's winning team intact. The fifth-placed Tigers are chasing their fourth win. Elijah Taylor and David Nofoaluma were both omitted 24 hours out from game time, with Paul Momirovski and Chris McQueen dropping out on game day.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Mahe Fonua
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael Jennings
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Robert Jennings
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Brad Takairangi
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
  • Winger for Eels is number 20 Josh Hoffman
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Corey Thompson
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Jaeman Salmon
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Daniel Alvaro
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Russell Packer
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Ryan Matterson
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Marata Niukore
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luke Garner
  • Lock for Eels is number 14 Peni Terepo
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Josh Aloiai

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 13 Tepai Moeroa
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Ben Matulino
  • Interchange for Eels is number 15 Tim Mannah
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Ray Stone
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

There's nothing Robbie Farah loves more than a chance to take on a young up-and-comer and that's what he's got on Sunday against promising hooker Reed Mahoney. The Eels need their rookie rake to hold his own against Farah.

For the Eels to win

Last year a loss like they had to Canberra might've left the Eels feeling sorry for themselves, but you get the feeling they'll be eager to get straight back on the horse. They need to stay pro-active in attack to keep the Tigers guessing defensively - something they didn't do well against the Raiders.

For the Tigers to win

They've proved they can keep teams to low scores and they play as a team, but the Tigers need to keep looking for news ways to score or at least develop their existing offensive system if they really want to be a threat in September.

Brett Kimmorley says

Parramatta weren’t great against the Raiders. Blake Ferguson was nullified to a large part by Canberra. They need a recovery week more than working on a lot of things. The Tigers have been scrapping really well. The thing I’m most looking forward to on Monday is the new Bankwest Stadium. With a sellout crowd it will be amazing. Eels by 4

Eels Stat Attack

Parra completed just 56% (19/34) in the 19-0 loss to the Raiders. They missed 52 tackles and had 18 errors. After five rounds Clint Gutherson leads the NRL in line break assists (6).

Tigers Stat Attack

The Tigers boast the third-best defensive record in the competition, conceding 59 points in five games. They lead the NRL in decoy runs (269) and all runs (957) and are also first in receipts (2,161).

And another thing ...

It might not rank up with Darren Albert's try to win the 1997 grand final, but Michael Chee-Kam etched his name into West Tigers folklore with his improbable match-winning try at the death against Brisbane last week. Extra time seemed a certainty before Chee-Kam had the presence of mind to see no-one was set for a field goal and decided to head towards the try-line. He caught the Broncos off guard and crashed over for a try that will be remembered years from now.

 

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.