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New Eels No.1 shines among star recruits as Tigers prevail

Dominic Brock and Dan Walsh
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

New Eels No.1 shines among star recruits as Tigers prevail
TRY - Skelton hit inspires Tigers to go in again
Eels draw level through Williams
Halves combine to set up terrific Tigers try
Botched Tigers scrum leads to Eels try
TRY - Bird scores in Tigers debut
TRY - Doueihi pulls the strings as Tigers draw level
TRY - Eels strike first against the run of play
Broadcast deal talk, the stats that really matter and how valuable is Dylan Brown?
Your say – who wins?

New Eels No.1 shines among star recruits as Tigers prevail

By Dan Walsh

Josh Addo-Carr, Zac Lomax, Terrell May, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird all stepped out in new club colours, but it was one-game NRL rookie and new Eels No.1 Isaiah Iongi who shone as bright as any in a 30-18 Tigers win at Leichhardt Oval.

New coach Jason Ryles’ emphasis on pace at Parramatta saw him back Iongi as his fullback as his first major selection call at the club, with skipper Clint Gutherson shifting out of position, and then moving on entirely.

Isaiah Iongi takes on the Wests Tigers defence.Getty Images

While Addo-Carr cooled his heels for an hour on an Eels bench featuring a dozen players, Iongi showed the swerve and verve Ryles is planning to build around in 2025, opening the scoring with a scything solo try where he left Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva for dead.

Iongi, 21, followed up with a fine cut-out pass for Sean Russell to score Parramatta’s second try of the night and finished with 123 running metres and seven tackle busts from a 60-minute stint.

Full-time: Tigers take winning form into round one

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More chaos here from a high kick – Parramatta’s Joash Papalii spills the bomb, Jack Bird grabs the loose ball for the Tigers and charges for the line, only to be carried over the sideline – but the Tigers get another chance from a scrum. They turn it over on the first tackle.

It’s an apt way for a trial game to finish but there has been a lot to like for the Wests Tigers especially in this one, although Brent Naden’s dislocated kneecap will be a concern going forward. Naden was at least able to take his place on the bench to watch the final stages of the match.

Wests Tigers 30, Eels 18 at full-time

TRY - Skelton hit inspires Tigers to go in again

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Errors are starting to mount for both teams here as fatigue starts to take its toll in February footy. The game is starting to lull a little and then – bang, Jeral Skelton has absolutely smashed Charlie Gumer with a rocking tackle that forces a turnover.

The Tigers take full advantage with a sharp backline move down the left, finished off by Solomona Faataape at centre. Adam Doueihi kicks yet another goal; it’s been a perfect night for the sharpshooters this evening.

Tigers 30, Eels 18 after 76 minutes

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Addo-Carr on for Eels cameo

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Josh Addo-Carr has been very vocal on the sideline – doing his best to throw Tigers goalkicker Adam Doueihi off his game at one point – and now the former Bulldogs and Storm star is finally on the field for the final 15 minutes, his first action as an Eels player.

Wests Tigers 24, Eels 17 after 65 minutes

Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr.Getty Images

Eels draw level through Williams

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Former Shark Jack Williams is another new recruit to grab a try tonight, going over for the Eels to level the scores. Zac Lomax, who is set to take the goalkicking duties off Mitchell Moses at Parramatta this season, has left the field in a planned substitution (expect more big names to exit early in the final half hour) and so it’s halfback Ronald Volkman’s turn to add the extras.

Tigers 18, Eels 18 after 50 minutes

Eels denied by the bunker

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An Eels bomb goes up, nobody can control the ball on the way down and it falls to Eels big man Charlie Guymer who strolls over the line to score – but it’s called back and the bunker confirms Parramatta winger Sean Russell had knocked on from the bomb.

Tigers 18, Eels 12 after 47 minutes

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Second half underway and the Tigers go close again

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The Tigers get the second half started and they’ve got a chance to add to their lead right away, with Eels forward Luca Moretti penalised for an incorrect play-the-ball. Samuela Fainu crashes over from short range but it looks like he’s held up. The bunker is taking a closer look and rules he’s lost the ball over the line.

Tigers 18, Eels 12 after 41 minutes

May making great first impression

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Terrell May, the former Roosters forward who ran a marathon in the off-season, has made a very good first impression for his new team with 13 carries for 125 metres in the first half. It’s the most run metres for any player in either team by some margin, with fellow Tigers prop Fonua Pole next best among the forwards with 72.

Half-time stats snapshot

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Halves combine to set up terrific Tigers try

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Some really good stuff from the Tigers here, Lachie Galvin taking the ball to the line, breaking through and linking up with with Adam Doueihi, who draws the final defender and flings an offload for winger Jeral Skelton to score down the left.

Doueihi keeps a very good half with the sideline conversion and Benji Marshall will be a happy man at half-time, despite the injury to Brent Naden.

Wests Tigers 18, Eels 12 at half-time

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