The Wests Tigers have struck first on Easter Monday with teen sensation Lachlan Galvin dissecting the Eels’ defence like a surgeon.
The most hyped-up 18-year-old to play for the Tigers in years took on the line and then put a pinpoint grubber through for Justin Olam to score the opener in the fourth minute.
MATCH CENTRE: Eels vs Tigers scores, stats, video
But a bit of Clint Gutherson magic delivered the hosts first try, with the Parramatta skipper producing a hook pass for Maika Sivo to dive over in the 16th minute.
The Eels then blew a golden chance to take the lead in bizarre fashion when prop Junior Paulo took the ball at first receiver off a scrum, just 15 metres from the Tigers’ line, and threw a wild cut-out pass that went into touch at a heaving Commbank Stadium.
The Tigers repelled set after set after set on their own line and eventually the host had to settle for a two-pointer on the stroke of halftime.
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MATCH PREVIEW
CommBank Stadium will be rocking on Easter Monday when the Parramatta Eels play host to the Wests Tigers, who are fresh off delivering Benji Marshall his first win as a head coach.
Bryce Cartwright is out, with Kelma Tuilagi starting in the second row and Brendan Hands joining the bench. J’maine Hopgood shifts to the pine with Ryan Matterson starting at lock.
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The Tigers are 1-17.
The Tigers dismantled the Sharks 32-6 in front of a sold out Leichhardt Oval crowd, with Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula starring.
The Tigers’ big names will need to fire again if they are any hope of beating Parramatta, who despite losing Mitch Moses for the next 2-3 months with a fractured foot, boasts one of the more talented teams on paper in the NRL.
One-gamer Blaize Talagi is the new face in the halves, with the 19-year-old set to partner Dylan Brown in the halves.
Winger Maika Sivo is back in the side, with Bailey Simonsson dropping out.
Parramatta won an entertaining match 28-22 in last year’s showdown on Easter Monday.
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