Sunday’s NRL 2018 Round 8 match is between Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:10 local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium. The home team Parramatta Eels are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers.
When: 16:10 | Sunday 29/04/2018
Where: ANZ Stadium
Preview:
Massive win, in good fashion, for the Eels last week and it’s amazing much like the Cowboys what that can do for the team.
Mitchell Moses was outstanding and back to his running best.
Newly appointed captain Clint Gutherson was great and they looked to be a completely different team.
The challenge is to repeat that effort.
Their prep was reported to be quite heated and from experience that’s not always a bad thing.
It shows each other that it means something to the individual.
The Tigers’ defence was looser than we’ve seen this year and they leaked some easy points.
They’ll need to address this as the Eels, as we know, are a team with plenty of skill and points in them.
KEY BATTLE: Mitchell Moses v Luke Brooks
The two number 7’s and housemates Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks (pictured above) are both oozing confidence and this will be a healthy showdown.
The Verdict
I liked the way the Eels have reacted last week but think maybe the Tigers might just sneak home in a tight one.
Unibet Odds:
Parramatta Eels at $2.25
Wests Tigers at $1.66
Odds:
OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!
Tip: Parramatta Eels at $2.05
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Bevan French at $10
More Info:
Teams:
Parramatta Eels:
1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Kaysa Pritchard, 10 Suaia Matagi, 11 Manu Ma’u, 12 Tony Williams, 13 Peni Terepo Interchange: 14 Will Smith, 15 Kenny Edwards, 16 David Gower, 17 Tim Mannah (c) Reserves: 18 Tepai Moeroa, 19 Kane Evans, 20 Josh Hoffman, 21 Cameron King.
Wests Tigers: 
1 Corey Thompson, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6 Benji Marshall (c), 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Matthew Eisenhuth, 9 Jacob Liddle, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Robbie Rochow, 13 Elijah Taylor (c) Interchange: 14 Pita Godinet, 15 Josh Aloiai, 16 Michael Chee-Kam, 17 Sauaso Sue Reserves: 18 Tim Grant, 19 Chris McQueen, 20 Tyson Gamble, 21 Mahe Fonua.
NRL News:
Parramatta have appointed Clinton Gutherson as co-captain for the rest of the season as they desperately attempt to breathe life into their flailing NRL season.
A week after making a successful return from an ACL injury, Gutherson was on Saturday anointed to lead the team alongside Tim Mannah and Beau Scott – who was this week named on an extra reserve.
“Each player brings different strengths to our team, and Clint has certainly proven his leadership skills and deserves to be rewarded for it,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said.
“Clint will have the opportunity to develop as a leader under the tutelage of two experienced captains in Tim and Beau.”
The captaincy restructure comes as Arthur’s side aims to end their seven-game losing streak to open the season against another embattled club in Manly.
While the Eels have bolstered their leadership, Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has been accused of literally coming to blows with Jackson Hastings on separate occasions over the past fortnight.
The shock developments have forced coach Trent Barrett to immediately exile his Hastings from the playing group, who themselves have had to defend reports they refused to play with the utility.
They are also on a two-game slide and in danger of losing touch with the top eight, leaving the Sea Eagles alongside the Eels in a precarious position early in the season.
“We’re no strangers to it either,” Arthur said.
“Every club goes through it and every club has a backs-to-the-wall mentality and they’ll be no different. Both teams are desperate to perform well for their fans and we’re expecting a real hard game.”
Arthur has continued to tinker with his line-up in a bid to find a winning combination, omitting Bevan French after admitting to bringing him back from a shoulder injury too early last week.
Jarryd Hayne returns early from a quad injury and will play wing, while Brad Takairangi has overcome a fractured eye socket to replace Kirisome Auva’a (ribs).
Kane Evans starts at prop, with Peni Terepo moving to lock for Tepai Moeroa (concussion) against a Sea Eagles side unchanged from their heavy loss to the Wests Tigers.
STATS THAT MATTER
– The Eels need to score 14 points against Manly to avoid having the fewest points of any team in the NRL era through the opening seven rounds.
– Jarryd Hayne has not started an NRL match on the wing since round 18, 2008 against South Sydney. He has scored 25 tries in 32 games on the wing over his career.
– Akuila Uate has failed to score in his past 10 games – the longest drought of his NRL career. His next try will bring up 500 career points.
