CommBank Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 2 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Wests Tigers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs. Wests Tigers game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday March 16, 2025 at 4:05 pm
Where: CommBank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers Odds
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers Preview
The stakes already feel high as western Sydney rivals Parramatta and Wests Tigers look to bounce back from Round 1 defeats.
The Jason Ryles era began in harrowing fashion as the Eels crumbled to a 56-18 loss – though it could have been much uglier when they trailed 46-6 at halftime after one of the most threadbare defensive showings you could hope to see.
Mitch Moses remains sidelined and Dylan Brown’s 2026 move to Newcastle brings more attention on the Eels they could do without.
Shaun Lane returns from a knee injury in the place of Round 1 turnstile Kelma Tuilagi, while Jordan Samrani will debut on the wing for Jake Tago and Kitione Kautoga takes Charlie Guymer’s spot on the bench.
Wests Tigers got off to a hot start at Campbelltown and still led Newcastle 8-0 with half an hour to play. But an inability to ice a slew of other opportunities came back to bite them as the Knights rallied to a 10-8 win.
The Tigers missed an eye-watering 51 tackles and seven line-breaks, but on the flipside they did well to concede just two tries. Terrell May and Jeral Skelton were outstanding on club debut and Jarome Luai looks at home in the Tigers’ colours.
The Tigers are boosted by the inclusion of Api Koroisau, Jahream Bula and Starford To’a, who come in for Tristan Hope, Heath Mason and Solomona Faataape, respectively.
Despite a couple of recent Easter Monday boilovers in the teams’ last two CommBank Stadium clashes, Parramatta has dominated this rivalry with 10 wins in its last 12 against Wests Tigers. Last year the Tigers won 17-16 at CommBank before the Eels romped to a 60-26 win at Campbelltown in Round 27.
A full-strength spine should give the Tigers more than enough thrust to put on a few more points this week and compound the Eels’ early-season woes.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Wests Tigers to win at $1.64 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Jeral Skelton at $7.50.
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers Teams
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Dan Keir 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Joey Lussick 22. Charlie Guymer
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Charlie Staines 19. Latu Fainu 20. Tristan Hope 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Solomona Faataape