Wests Tigers v Eels NRLW preview

Embed from Getty Images

Wests Tigers (W) v Parramatta Eels (W) Sunday 6:10pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal

The final game of round four in the NRLW sees a desperate Wests Tigers looking to snap their losing streak at home against the seasons most improved by far in the Parramatta Eels. 

It hasn't been a pretty start to the season for the Tigers, with three losses of 16+ in the first three rounds of the season. While there is no denying that the Tigers have been competitive despite the scorelines of their first three games, they have not been able to put a full 70 minute performance together.  Last week was no different, holding the Roosters scoreless in the first half before conceding 20 in the second half to go down 20-4. That loss was compounded by the injury to co-captain Kezie Apps, who will miss the rest of the season with a PCL injury.  It hasn't been all bad news for the Tigers, with Tess Staines giving defensive lines plenty of issues this year and 

The most improved team of 2024 by a country mile, the Parramatta Eels have vaulted themselves into a finals position for the first time since their grand final run in 2022. A 20-6 win against a dangerous North Queensland Cowboys firmly announced the Eels intentions of being major players in this year's NRLW Premiership.  The combination that is the Parramatta spine has gelled into something that hasn't been seen since Parramatta came into the competition. Rachael Pearson has been fantastic alongside Cassey Tohi-Hiku, while Abbi Church has worked her way into 2024 with a lightning performance last week. The duel-weapon at dummy half with Taneka Todhunter and Rosemarie Beckett just caps off what is Parramatta's biggest weapon this year; their versatility to hit you from anywhere on the field. If the Tigers want to record their first win of this season, they need to play like how they did in the first half of last week for the full 70 minutes. This is a Parramatta team who have demonstrated that they will hit you from short range with grubbers, sweeping plays or from deep in their own half. Should the Tigers be able to stop the run early, get some early points and have Parramatta playing catch up, the Tigers could very well walk away with an upset.

A couple of forced changes for the Tigers and coach Brett Kimmorley, with captain Kezie Apps and Harmony Crichton injured in last week's loss to the Roosters. Rebecca Pollard takes Crichton's spot on the wing, while Brooke Talataina moves into the starting line up and Jessica Kennedy gets promoted from the reserves to the bench.  Parramatta have named the same 17 for the third game in a row - something unheard of with the Eels for the last couple of seasons. New signee Breanna Eales will start off her Eels career in the reserves, having signed her contract last week.

Last meeting: Round 1 2023 - Eels 8 Wests Tigers 36

Who to watch: Tess Staines will be eyeing up the right edge of the Parramatta Eels this week, coming off a game where she scored her first try for the Tigers. The Eels right edge is where they concede the majority of their points, and the former Eel will have a solid understanding on where to hit Parramatta where it hurts. It could be further motivation for Staines, who is currently 0-12 in her win/loss career - as she looks to win for the first time against her old club.

Abbi Church arguably had her breakout game of 2024 last week, scoring a try as well as two linebreaks and 190 running metres. Church, who is tied currently as the most capped Eel with 20 (Kennedy Cherrington), has started to turn a corner after a pretty lackluster 2023. Averaging more metres per game this season than in her career so far, she will try to use her change of pace at the line to bust through some tired Tigers defenders late in the first half. 

MY TIP: Do not get me wrong, there is nothing to say that the Tigers won't cause a serious upset this weekend - but something has to change. Parramatta on paper, and in the form line are the superior side this weekend. Watch the Eels attack down the Tigers left edge early to get Rory Owen an early crack at the line, with my gut saying that Owen scores and the Eels run away with a strong victory in Tigerland on Sunday. Eels by 16.

1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Rebecca Pollard 3. Leianne Tufuga 4. Rikeya Horne 5. Tess Staines 6. Pauline Piliae 7. Losana Lutu 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Salma Nour 10. Christian Pio 11. Brooke Talataina 12. Shaianne McGlone 13. Najvada George 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Natasha Penitani 16. Tara Reinke 17. Jessica Kennedy 18. Tiana-Lee Thorne

1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Rosie Kelly 5. Monique Donovan 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Taneka Todhunter 10. Madeline Jones 11. Chloe Jackson 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Kennedy Cherrington 14. Rosemarie Beckett 16. Jade Fonua 18. Tafao Asaua 19. Breanna Eales 22. Pihuka Berryman-Duff

Referees: Damian Brady; Sideline Officials: Ethan Klein, Bradley Kiehne; Video Referees: David Munro;