No matter where the two teams are on the ladder, Easter Monday battles between the Eels and Tigers rarely disappoint – and 2025 was no different.
Adding to the hype and disappointment was a week of controversy with the dropping of Lachie Galvin to NSW Cup after news that he’d be leaving the club at the end of 2026. It sparked reports of discontent with Benji Marshall’s coaching and subsequently players posting negative content about their young teammate.
But it was the Mitch Moses show. He made his return from injury earlier than expected guiding his side to an important second win of the season, in a game that got physical and fiery.
1. Moses helps the Eels look like a threating team again
Coming into the game with just one win in seven games, the Eels were clearly struggling to gel as a team and play like a coordinated unit.
With their star halfback on the field, they were soon playing like a completely different side. There was more shape to the attack and patience early in the game, as Parramatta methodically broke down the Tigers on their own line.
Moses sealed back-to-back sets with a pinpoint 40-20, and with the Tigers on the back foot he steered the play side to side, until Josh Addo-Carr crossed in the corner for the game’s opening try.
It wasn’t just the try assist in the first half but his kicking, he had six kicks for 245 metres in the first half.
Eels celebrate after scoring a try. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
His impact also rubbed off on Dylan Brown who was playing freer than when he was running the show, making 116 metres in the first half including an exciting line break where he looked at one stage like he may have gone all the way.
Putting the icing on the cake, Moses had a perfect kick in the final 10 minutes, just as the Tigers were gaining momentum for Bailey Simonsson to score.
2. Is Jarome Luai more suited to halfback?
Putting the Lachie Galvin issue aside, before the game, former Blues Assistant Coach Greg Alexander noted that this match-up was virtually a State of Origin halfback audition between Moses and Jarome Luai.
It wasn’t a direct competition given Luai was playing in his previous position at the Panthers, five-eighth, in Galvin’s absence and Adam Doueihi wore the No.7.
Perhaps coach Benji Marshall should keep him at halfback, whether Galvin makes a return or not in coming weeks.
3. Galvin is not the only young star in the Tigers side
It wasn’t just the battle of the halves but also the exciting young fullbacks: Jahream Bula and Isaiah Iongi who both showed their attacking flair in scoring for their teams.
Bula was part of the Tigers comeback to take the lead in the first half, coming up with his team’s second with an impressive run.
Moses acknowledged during his halftime interview that he was “cutting us to shreds”.
Not to be outdone was his Eels counterpart, who came up with a double either side of half time. Iongi even ended up in the sin bin, capping off an eventful game.
4. Tigers week of turmoil inspires them to dig deep
It was threatening to be a long afternoon for the Wests Tigers early in the second half, when the Eels scored three straight tries.
Parramatta had all the momentum and in contrast, the Tigers were not showing the same flair and heart that they had in previous games this season.
That was until the sideline scuffle that resulted in a player from both teams being sent to the sin bin, followed by Iongi’s professional foul that left it 12-on-11 at one stage.
From there, the Tigers were able to respond with two tries in six minutes to set up a thrilling finish.
5. Let the players let off some steam, no need for pointless double sin-binnings
The referees have got in the habit of needing to find an instigator in anything that resembles a scuffle
It results in the pointless exercise of reducing both teams to 12 men similar to ice hockey.
Punches were already outlawed so it’s not illegal actions that are being penalised, it’s just the optics of push, shove and showing some agro that the NRL administration doesn’t like.
In a physical game like rugby league, let the push and shove go unless it steps over a line.
The Kick: Crackdown or not, all fans want is consistency
Surprise, surprise. It may speak to the quality of the game the one area of letdown is that fans still don’t know what is or is or isn’t a sin bin.
Straight from the kick-off Kelma Tuilagi collected Terrell May with a forceful shoulder to the head. Cooper Cronk commenting on Fox League: “It was more than on report”.
It was only discovered and placed on report, without penalty or sin bin, after a much lighter tackle from Fonua Pole on Junior Paulo that led to the Eels opening the scoring from a penalty goal.
Then early in the second half, the officiating was in the spotlight when Tuilagi stayed down with a leg injury. The officials eventually calling it a hip drop despite not coming in contact with his legs.
It didn’t affect the second-rower who scored the first try after the break.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, all that players and fans want is consistency in decisions.
