Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels
26th September 1035hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Wests +10 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 21/20 odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September
Parramatta have a little work to do in this final game of the regular season and that is because a top-four finish is on the line for them.
Defeat and they could be surpassed by the Canberra Raiders for that precious fourth-place, which gives a double chance in the finals bracket.
So the pressure is all on them as the Wests Tigers cannot reach the top eight.
Table of Contents
Wests Tigers Preview – Can Tigers trip up the Eels?
It is a W7 L12 record the Wests Tigers have collected this season and at one point they never looked like getting anywhere near that.
Last weekend they were blown away by the Melbourne Storm which has left them with back to back losses in the NRL.
It has been a poor return for just two wins in their last eight league fixtures, so they are certainly not a team in form.
The one home win that they took in the sequence of games was a one-point margin success over the Canterbury Bulldogs who are second-from-bottom.
Wests haven’t actually done too badly in terms of the points that they have put on the board as they are averaging 21 per game, which is two points better per game on average than that of the Eels.
But where things fall down for the Tigers is that they have conceded 25 points per game on average.
The Tigers suffered a 16-26 loss against Parramatta when they met for the first time this season back in July.
That is a four-match losing streak that they are currently on against the Eels now.
Wests Tigers are going into his one as the 11/4 underdogs in the match outright for NRL betting* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
At the end of the day Wests have nothing at stake in this fixture and nothing to prove at all, and that won’t make them an appealing option for punters.
Parramatta Eels Preview – Can Eels get their win?
A win for the Eels will see them bank a top-four finish which will give them an all-important double chance come the finals bracket.
But defeat and they could miss out if the Raiders win their final match of the campaign.
So the pressure is on the Eels and after looking so strong for so long, and spending plenty of time at the top of the ladder, inconsistencies have plagued them.
It is a W3 L3 record that the Eels have taken in their last six league games and just one of those wins was away from home.
But still, they are heavy odds-on favourites to collect the match win against Wests who are just out of form.
An Eels -10 handicap for this match is at 10/11* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
Of the eight teams who are going to the finals bracket, the Eels are the lowest scorers of the lot.
Defensively they have been a lot better this season and that is probably what is going to carry them across the line.
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Parramatta Eels have to be concerned about their lack of scoring, even in collecting a 26-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos last weekend.
It wasn’t a rout against the ladder’s worst team this season.
In their last five league fixtures, the Parramatta Eels have produced only an average of 13 points per game and interestingly the Tigers have produced an average of 20 points per game in that same period.
So this may not be a total cut and dry match for the Eels with the pressure on.
Their average winning margin is just 12 points this season, the lowest of the top eight so even getting to that -10 Handicap on them is a little bit tough to get to.
Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels Betting Advice
Will the Eels deliver the win that they need? We have to think that they will just grind one out, even though their attack is not looking clinical at the moment.
The Eels are falling short in attacking creativity so we would look for a small winning margin and an Eels 1-12 winning margin fits NRL betting well for a 2/1 quote* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
Key Facts – Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels Betting Tip
- Wests Tigers are W2 L6 in their last eight league fixtures
- Wests Tigers have lost the last four fixtures against the Eels
- Parramatta Eels have to win to guarantee a top-four finish
The wins just haven’t been there recently for Wests Tigers to suggest that they are going to finish the season on a high and gain some revenge over the Eels.
But they may well because they have scored very well in their last three matches, rattle the Eels.
It’s worth remembering that in the season’s first meeting Wests were well in the game at the half time break.
The best betting odds for Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels
Wests Tigers to win: 9/4 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Parramatta Eels to win: 2/7 at Bet365
