Round 8: Eels v Wests Tigers preview
Is the tide turning?
The Parramatta Eels have turned around a six-game losing streak to get their first victory of the year against the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend whilst the Wests Tigers suffered their second loss of the season falling to a late try in Tamworth against the Newcastle Knights.
The Parramatta Eels put behind weeks of turmoil behind them with a stylish 44-10 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles who are having their own troubled period in the NRL. The Eels have lacked connection and productivity in attack in the first six weeks of the season but things began to click last weekend for the Eels and that was backed up by a completion rate of 92% (34/37) compared to 80% and below in recent weeks.
The Eels performance last week was a complete opposite to their performances of the weeks before scoring as many tries in the opening half last week as they had in the first six weeks. Although their first twenty minutes was scrappy, things improved with Mitch Moses and Corey Norman in attack with the pair putting aside reported tension to get an attack that was expected of the Eels at the beginning of the season. Despite being in a highly inferior position to last season, the Eels points conceded compared to last season is relatively similar conceding just 14 more points in 2018 than their 148 points against at the same time last year.
The Wests Tigers slipped to a heartbreaking defeat in Tamworth when they took on the Newcastle Knights despite the Tigers having to come from 10-0 at Half Time to lead by 20-10 with 15 minutes to play. The Tigers crisp play of weeks gone by had disappeared but the combination of Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks was working well together still and brought the Tigers back into the game. The Tigers have been the surprise packets of the season and prior to last week the Tigers only defeat came from an incorrect refereeing decision against the Broncos.
One of the Tigers biggest strength has been their defence and that was on show during these teams first clash and although the margin was only ten, the Eels put on some consolation tries at the end. The Tigers have only conceded 89 points across the first seven rounds of the competition which is a whopping 103 points less than they had conceded in the same point in the 2017 season. The Tigers will need to ensure their defence is up to the mark because the Eels will be playing with confidence after taking their first victory of the season.
Last meeting: Round 4 2018 - Wests Tigers 30 Eels 20
Who to watch: Mitch Moses - The Ex-Tiger is a player that is still under pressure despite the victory last weekend especially with a big game against his old team and a fan base that possess an open hatred for. Mitch Moses has at times gone missing this season with just two try assists in the first six rounds of the season before putting on three last week against the Sea Eagles.
David Nofoaluma - A fan favourite of the Tigers, the man nicknamed Nofa started the season in the Intrust Super Premiership and was dropped back for rounds 4 & 5 before being recalled in a shock swap with Tui Lolohea. The Tigers winger will need a much-improved performance after losing out in a battle with Knights winger Ken Sio who got two tries past Nofaluma. The Tigers will need a big improvement defensively from ‘Nofa' if they want to keep a confident Parramatta side quiet on their flanks.
The favourite: Despite being winners last week, the Eels are outsiders and aren't tipped to put back to back wins together.
My tip: At the beginning of the preview I was certain about who wins, halfway through I'd made up my mind the other way and then swapped it back again. This game will either go right down to the wire and potentially go to golden point or one side will win this quite easily. There's just something in me that says Parramatta can go back to back for the first time in 2018 and I think confidence will be very high and that will get them the victory in a tight game. Eels by 4.
