Wests Tigers Holden Cup side will take on the Parramatta Eels in an Elimination Final on Sunday after finishing the regular season just outside the top four.
Willie Peters’ side looked to be on course for a potential top-four finish in 2016, but ended the year with just two wins from their last six matches (also including two draws), to finish in sixth position and needing to win this week to remain in the Holden Cup finals series.
With players returning to the Club’s Intrust Super Premiership side, Jacob Liddle, Esan Marsters, Taniela Paseka and Luke Sharpe all return for Sunday’s game at Allianz Stadium, while five-eighth Veiru Mapesone also makes a timely return from injury.
Key players also return for the Eels, with junior representative forwards Alex Twal and Tyrell Fuimaono named to start for Luke Burt’s side, who will be looking to record their third win over Wests Tigers following their victories in Round 4 and 21 respectively.
After a bright start to the year, Parramatta have followed a similar pattern to Wests Tigers to end the season — winning just three of their last eight regular season games.
The winner of Sunday’s Elimination Final will go on to play the loser of Sunday’s Preliminary Final between Penrith and Cronulla, also playing on Sunday at Allianz.
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Match Details
Date — Sunday, September 11, 2016
Time — 11:10am AEST
Venue — Allianz Stadium, Sydney
TV — Live via Fox Sports 1 (subscription required)
Match Officials
Match Referees — Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski and Drew Oultram
Touch Judges — Rohan Best and James Vella
Video Referees — Ashley Klein and Bryan Norrie
Team Lists
Wests Tigers
1. Luke Sharpe 2. Roman Ioelu 3. Toa Mata’afa 4. Tony Tali 5. Obed Karwhin 6. Veiru Mapesone 7. Daniel Roberts 8. Ray Stone 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Esan Marsters 12. Mark McCormack 13. Jack Wheelhouse (Interchange: 14. Daniel Peck 15. Jakob Giles 16. Trent Pye 17. Pio Sokobalava — Coach: Willie Peters)
Parramatta Eels
1. Mason Cerruto 2. James Gammidge 3. Tuimavave Afualo 4. Atini Gafa 5. Jermaine Mati-Leifi 6. Dean Matterson 7. Troy Dargan 8. Alex Twal 9. Denzal Tonise 10. Jamie Stowers 11. Jack Morris 12. Tyrell Fuimaono 13. Tom Amone (Interchange: 14. Michael Doolan 15. Kurt De Luis 16. Tom Field 17. Jye Chanellor 18. Reed Mahoney — Coach: Luke Burt)
Recent Form
Wests Tigers
R22 — Wests Tigers 36 def. North Queensland Cowboys 12
R23 — Gold Coast Titans 36 def. Wests Tigers 34
R24 — Wests Tigers 22 def. Penrith Panthers 14
R25 — Wests Tigers 24 drew with New Zealand Warriors 24
R26 — Wests Tigers 28 drew with Canberra Raiders 28
Parramatta Eels
R22 — Parramatta Eels 24 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10
R23 — Brisbane Broncos 34 def. Parramatta Eels 32
R24 — Canberra Raiders 28 def. Parramatta Eels 12
R25 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 32 def. Parramatta Eels 10
R26 — Parramatta Eels 32 def. New Zealand Warriors 18
2016 Season Summary
Position | Wests Tigers (6th), Parramatta Eels (7th)
Points For | Wests Tigers (6th), Parramatta Eels (13th)
Points Against | Wests Tigers (3rd), Parramatta Eels (5th)
Completion Rate | Wests Tigers (7th), Parramatta Eels (8th)
Linebreaks | Wests Tigers (3rd), Parramatta Eels (12th)
Offloads | Wests Tigers (7th), Parramatta Eels (10th)
Missed Tackles | Wests Tigers (2nd fewest), Parramatta Eels (8th)
Errors | Wests Tigers (7th most), Parramatta Eels (6th)
Penalties | Wests Tigers (11th), Parramatta Eels (7th)
