2023 NRL Round 6: Eels 28, Tigers 22

Last year’s grand finalists found themselves second last and looking to avoid a second consecutive Easter Monday loss to the Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium.

Result

Parramatta Eels 28
Tries: Clint Gutherson 11th; Will Penisini 14th; Bryce Cartwright 33rd; Maika Sivo 45th, 75th
Goals: Mitchell Moses 12th, 16th, 35th

Wests Tigers 22
Tries: Starford To’a 23rd; Asu Kepaoa 49th; Brent Naden 64th; Junior Tupou 71st
Goals: Adam Doueihi 25th, 66th, 76th; Luke Brooks 77th

Report

The Easter Monday clash between the Eels and Tigers was a battle between the 16th and 17th placed sides which featured David Klemmer playing his 200th NRL game.

Wests Tigers put early pressure on the Eels line, but the 2022 grand finalists scored first with a kick behind the line from Mitchell Moses which ended up with Clint Gutherson scoring. Moses set up his second soon after sending Will Penisini over.

The Tigers got on the board via a loose pass from Moses with Starford To’a running away to score. Just as the Tigers looked like they were about to apply pressure, Junior Tupou made an unforced error which led to Bryce Cartwright extending the Eels lead to 18-6 at the break.

Early in the second half Maika Sivo put the Eels ahead 22-6 with Moses’ fourth try assist of the afternoon.

The home side persisted and looked to keep the ball alive and run around the Eels. They drew within six points with 13 minutes remaining when Brent Naden scored following a barnstorming run by Tupou. Naden in the process left the field with a suspected broken collarbone.

When Tupou crossed four minutes later, Api Koroisau couldn’t convert from out wide after Adam Doueihi went off with a knee injury moments earlier.

Parramatta sealed victory with Sivo in for his second inside the final 5 minutes after a mistake from Charlie Staines in attempting to catch a line drop-out. Luke Brooks converted a penalty goal to set up a grandstand finish but the Tigers fell short by 6 points.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS

3 – Mitchell Moses (Eels)
2 – Adam Doueihi (Tigers)
1 – Charlie Staines (Tigers)