MNF RD12: Tigers host the Eels at Telstra Stadium

Tonight the streaking Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels clash at Telstra Stadium in Monday Night Football.

The Tigers have won 6 games in a row after starting the season with 4 straight losses but face an Eels side that has take the points in 3 of their past 4. So it is fair to say both teams are in good form.

Wests Tigers
> 10 Games, 6 Wins, 4 Losses & 1 Bye for 14 Points
> 36 Tries For, 30 Tries Against
> 3 Wins & 1 Loss at Home
> Currently 4th on NRL Ladder.

Parramatta Eels
> 11 Games, 6 Wins, 5 Losses for 12 Points
> 41 Tries For, 37 Tries Against
> 1 Win & 4 Losses on the Road.
> Currently 7th on NRL Ladder.

Team Changes:

Lineup wise the Tigers have lost Paul Whatuira with an ankle injury sustained against the Panthers last weekend with Chris Lawrence moving from the bench to start at centre and speedster Shannon McDonnell joining a 5 man bench. While the Eels have Feleti Mateo and Krisnan Inu replacing last week's impressive rookie Weller Hauraki and the injured Timana Tahu (who succumbed to another hamstring tear in his first game back from the same injury). Inu replaces Tahu directly while Mateo comes into the starting lineup relegating veteran forward Chad Robinson to the bench.

The Teams (#1 to 17+):

WESTS TIGERS
HODGSON, Brett ©
FITZHENRY, Daniel
COLLIS, Dean
LAWRENCE, Chris
TUIAKI, Taniela
FULTON, Liam
MORRIS, John
PAYTEN, Todd
FARAH, Robbie
GIBBS, Bryce
GALEA, Ben
HEIGHINGTON, Chris
HALATAU, Dene
Bench:
GALEA, Danny
McDONNELL, Shannon
HARRISON, Bronson
TE'O, Ben
SAFFY, Jarrod
Coach:
SHEENS, Tim

PARRAMATTA EELS
BURT, Luke
HAYNE, Jarryd
SMITH, Ben
INU, Krisnan
GROTHE, Eric
FINCH, Brett
SMITH, Tim
CAYLESS, Nathan ©
MARSH, Peter John
CANNINGS, Aaron
HINDMARSH, Nathan
MATEO, Feleti
WAGON, Daniel
Bench:
RIDDELL, Mark
CORDOBA, Josh
ROBINSON, Chad
MOIMOI, FuiFui
Coach:
HAGAN, Michael

Where it will be won:

The Tigers are capable of scoring points against any team and are excellent front-runners. But they can get a bit over-adventurous when chasing points and the Eels have based their game plan around a strong go-forward which helps them not only gain ground but control the flow of a game once in front. What this means is the Eels don't like chasing points (not that any team does mind you) as their structure means Tim Smith and Brett Finch build scoring opportunities off the strength of the preceding hit up. They are not as 'off the cuff' as the Tigers are labeled - although if you watch the Tigers carefully their attacking structure is actually quite complicated and born out of repetition rather than instantaneous inspiration. This is where the Tigers can rip teams apart because if they can throw a number of different attacking options into the mix it is harder for opposition defences to adapt. Tim Sheens has taken a big leaf out of the complexity of the NFL in America and his team (when they keep to the game plan) can look brilliant and creative in attack as a result.And that's where the game should be won - the Tigers ability to throw a number of different attacking options at the Eels who in return don't appear to be able to change their style on the run as easily and if the Tigers get an early lead - we can't see the Eels picking them up.

EIUOO SPORTS TIP: Wests Tigers by 4

EIUOO SPORTS 1st TRYSCORER: #4 Chris LAWRENCE, Wests Tigers