Throwback Thursday: Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels

Over 50,000 spectators packed into ANZ Stadium for the inaugural Easter Monday clash between the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels in 2014.

The fans were treated to a classic match between the two sides, which started poorly for the black and gold as Jarryd Hayne crossed for a first-half double on the right-edge.

Wests Tigers would soon return fire through five-eighth Blake Austin, who skipped out of dummy-half and crashed past two defenders to claim his side’s first try of the evening.

The joint-venture hit the lead shortly after as Luke Brooks took an intercept and ran eighty metres to score, but his joy was short lived as Ken Sio and Jarryd Hayne combined to reclaim the advantage for their side.

Another intercept to winger Pat Richards had Wests Tigers back in front, but the resilient Parramatta outfit refused to yield and tied the game in the 76th minute through Semi Radradra.

In his first full season in the top flight, Luke Brooks stepped up and put his side in-front with a field goal in the 79th minute before Pat Richards iced the victory with a fifty-metre penalty goal on full-time.

Round 8, 2012

With both clubs sitting in the bottom four, the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers travelled to Parramatta Stadium in desperate need of a win.

It was the away side that got the scoring underway as hooker Robbie Farah sent Chris Lawrence through a gaping hole in the defensive line for his first try of the season.

Wests Tigers soon extended their advantage through a pair of tries to Beau Ryan and Liam Fulton, before Benji Marshall kicked a field goal on the stroke of halftime.

After the break, Marshall combined with Ben Murdoch-Masila for the first try of the young forward’s career, before repeating the dosage to push the lead out to thirty-one points.

In a dramatic turn of events, the home side mounted a late charge and stormed home to send a scare through the Wests Tigers’ fanbase.

Tries in the last fifteen minutes to Matt Ryan, Willie Tonga, Ken Sio and Jarryd Hayne cut the lead to just seven points with two minutes to play.

Cheyse Blair scored on the siren to put the home side within one point of the lead, but Marshall’s early field goal would ultimately prove decisive as the Wests Tigers chalked up their third win of the year.

Round 22, 2012

With a finals place within reach for the home side, the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels locked horns once more in 2012 at Campbelltown Stadium.

The visitors got away to a quick start courtesy of tries to Ben Roberts, Ken Sio and Jake Mullaney, leading 22-6 after just twenty-seven minutes of play.

However, what ensued was an attacking onslaught from the joint-venture, who racked up fifty-one points against the lowest-ranked defensive outfit in the competition.

Matt Utai, Adam Blair, Chris Heighington and Tim Moltzen all crossed for tries but the night belonged to Fijian flyer Marika Koroibete.

Koroibete sent the parochial home crowd into raptures with a four-try haul in the second-half, scoring in the 49th, 55th, 77th and 80th minutes to seal a dominant victory and a top eight position.

Round 24, 2009

Anticipation was high ahead of a crucial match between Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers and Jarryd Hayne’s Parramatta Eels, with a place in the finals series on the line.

Although the result did not fall the way of Tim Sheens’ side, the match will be fondly remembered by Wests Tigers fans for a moment of individual brilliance from Marshall.

With the scores locked at zero after twenty minutes, the Kiwi magician received a pass from Robbie Farah and put on a display of flamboyant footwork, fooling defenders and cameramen alike with a dramatic dummy.

Having created the overlap, Marshall opted against a simple draw-and-pass, instead choosing to throw an audacious behind-the-back flick pass for Blake Ayshford to score in the corner.

Tries to Beau Ryan and John Morris kept the joint-venture within touching distance of the lead, but Jarryd Hayne’s masterful display was enough for the Eels to emerge triumphant and book their spot in the finals.