Round 27: Wests Tigers v Eels preview
SPOON BOWL! - Tigers look to avoid three straight last place finishes
Time to prepare the spoons and cue the RoundBall Rock as we have our first officially sanctioned Spoon Bowl since 2017. But, putting all the memes aside, this is actually going to be quite the contest between two sides that are desperate to avoid the tag-line that comes with finishing in last place.
For the Tigers, it's been quite the year for the boys from Concord. They have been savaged by injury, suspension, poor discipline among other factors this season. Despite this, they have shown glimpses of good football from their young nucleus. If the signings they have made for 25' fire, they should be able to at least escape the bottom four. Last time out, they started poorly against Manly but then put the cleaners through them playing a well disciplined game and scoring an upset.
To beat Parramatta, they need to go back to Easter Monday. They played a similar style of football then, chancing their arm in attack and playing for each-other in defence. Lachlan Galvin and Samuela Fainu have been revelations on the left edge and given the way Parramatta's left side self-destructed in the final ten last week, that's the edge to target. Their middle will have to be dominant too, Parramatta's much maligned forwards have been putting in good performances as of late as they look to avoid the unemployment line for 2025. So for the Tigers, that's one battle they need to win.
Team news now and Aidan Sezer has been named to play despite suffering a shoulder injury against Manly ahead of the bye. Josh Feledy comes into the centres for his second game of the season so Junior Tupou goes to the wing and Solomon Alaimalo is out.
Parramatta are in a similar position. A season from hell with key injuries causing mayhem. You throw in Brad Arthur being fired after Magic Round and that is just icing on the cake. Since then, Trent Barrett has tried with the limited resources at his disposal but it's clear the Eels need a new era to begin and quickly at that. Edge defence again remains a massive issue that needs to be rectified over the summer. It's hurt them so often this season and it nearly led to one of the biggest collapses in premiership history as they nearly blew a 44-12 lead.
Looking to Spoon Bowl. Parramatta would like to think they go into this one as favourites. But they just need to go back to last weekend (well the first 70 minutes at least). They were able to effectively eliminate the Dragons in ruthless fashion, capitalising on everything the Dragons gave them. Parramatta come into this one with it all to play for as they try to avoid their first wooden spoon since 2018. Expect Dylan Brown to continue the great role he's played since stepping up as chief playmaker, his form the last few weeks has been magnificent. Also expect a big performance from Blaize Talagi as he plays his last game for the Eels.
Onto team news and Kelma Tuilagi is back in the side after being a late withdrawal last week so Shaun Lane reverts to prop and Ofahiki Ogden goes to the bench. That pushes Dan Keir out. Sean Russell comes in on the wing for Jake Tago.
Last meeting: Round 4 2024 - Eels 16 Wests Tigers 17
Who to watch: My focus for the Tigers is on Lachie Galvin. If he wasn't suspended for a hip-drop early in the season, he would be a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year. Galvin has been the beacon of light in Tiger Land after what has been a disappointing season. Amid rumours he wanted out, he has managed to block the noise out (somehow) and done all he could for the Tigers in a troubling year. If the Tigers win, it's all through Galvin.
Looking at Parramatta, I am going to go a little rogue with my player to watch and highlight Brendan Hands. Now, in a season where he started down the depth chart, Hands has it all in his court for 2025. His consistent back end to the season has him in line to take the 9-jersey next season. His work in and around the ruck has done all he could to give the Eels forwards some ascendancy. Expect Hands to lead the way and guide his forwards around the park on Friday night.
FAVOURITE: Parramatta are favourites after a big... (well, sort of) win last week.
MY TIP: It's the last 6pm game of the season and it's for all the marbles down the bottom end of the table. The Tigers are like a box of chocolates, you don't know what you will get. They could struggle to rise to the occasion at a sold-out Campbelltown and revert back to conceding a swag of penalties and have players in the bin and Parramatta run up the score. But it could help them and rally the troops like it did v Souths three weeks ago. I think that fact alone should be enough to scrape home, but it will be one tightly contested fixture as both sides won't blink until the final siren. Tigers by 1 - with golden point to decide the spoon.
