NRL fans will delight in a public holiday and an NRL game to watch, regardless of the teams playing. The traditional Easter Monday game for some years now has seen the Eels up against the Tigers. This year, the fortunes of each team couldn’t be further apart.
The Eels have begun the season well and will look to maintain this level well into the Finals. For the Tigers, they are still searching for their first victory of the season. The circus surrounding them is ridiculous each week, but a win will silence many pundits, albeit for only a week. As the long weekend draws to a close, this NRL betting preview will hopefully finish your weekend off on a positive note.
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers
CommBank Stadium, Monday 18th April, 4pm (EST)
Squads
Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Will Penisini 3. Tom Opacic 4. Marata Niukore 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’I 13. Nathan Brown Interchange: 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Hayze Perham 17. Mitch Rein 18. Bryce Cartwright
Wests Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. James Roberts 4. Luke Garner 5. Starford To’a 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue Interchange: 14. Jock Madden 15. Alex Twal 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Tyrone Peachey
Match Preview
There is only one possible winner in this game and that is the Eels. The Tigers will be boosted by the return of Hastings to the halves, allowing Brooks to play wider of the ruck but that will only take them so far. They still lack a quality hooker, who is benefitted from playing behind a strong pack of forwards. The Eels have been pressured several times this season but have been able to rise above each challenge.
This game should be no different and the hardest decision is deciding on a valuable investment. The Eels love playing in front of a large home crowd, and it generally yields a strong performance from them. This game should be no different, with positive conditions expected for a high scoring contest, there is little the Tigers can do to halt this. It could get very ugly at the end of 80 minutes.
Prop Bets:
Eels 31-40/Tigers 1-10/Over 43.5 ($12 at Ladbrokes)
Opcic/Moses Anytime Tryscorers ($5.50 at Ladbrokes)
Eels -21.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
