On March 16, 2025, the Wests Tigers achieved their first victory of the 2025 NRL season with a resounding 32-6 triumph against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium. After struggling to find their stride earlier this season, the Tigers delivered a performance reminiscent of their earlier mastery, with the spotlight shining bright on their new recruit, Sunia Turuva, who scored three pivotal tries.
The Tigers, under the leadership of coach Benji Marshall, claimed the match with determination, leading 16-0 at halftime. Turuva opened the scoring for the Tigers, showcasing his exceptional speed and agility. The opening try came after Jahream Bula deftly set up Turuva by combining with Starford To’a. Turuva then raced across the line, putting the Tigers on the scoreboard.
The Tigers' offensive onslaught continued shortly thereafter, with To’a managing to evade Parramatta defenders to score another try, increasing the margin. Highlighting their strategic implementation, the Tigers executed their game plan well; Marshall noted post-match about their defensive resolve: “Our defensive resolve was probably the biggest thing,” he stated. “We made a few errors, but we backed it up with our defense on the try line.”
Lachlan Galvin added to the score just before the break, finishing off a brilliant play started by Bula, who intercepted the ball after receiving it from Doueihi. With Galvin’s try, the Tigers cruised comfortably at halftime, holding on to their 16-point lead.
The second half saw the Tigers maintain their momentum. Galvin and Jarome Luai linked up beautifully to create yet another long-range try for Jeral Skelton early in the half. The Tigers showed no signs of letting up, and Turuva capitalized on the growing pressure, securing his second try shortly after with Bula’s assistance. He completed his remarkable hat-trick minutes later, sealing the game at 32-0.
On the other hand, the Eels struggled significantly without their star halfback Mitch Moses. Jason Ryles, the Eels' coach, lamented their performance, stating, “I think we set the game up fairly well early on and we couldn’t execute. We've got younger players out there in key positions, which are learning on the job.” This loss meant Ryles would continue to seek his first win as head coach amid rising concerns among fans.
While the Eels did manage to score a consolation try by winger Sean Russell in the dying moments of the game, it was too little too late as they wrapped the match with only six points against the Tigers' impressive 32. Ryles highlighted the lapses of concentration, saying, “The other part was the lapses in concentration individually . . . they hurt us big time defensively.”
Among the Tigers, Turuva not only celebrated his hat-trick but also registered impressive statistics including significant running meters. He ended the game with 139 running meters and six tackle breaks, establishing himself as a fan favorite. Adam Doueihi also had notable contributions with two line breaks, one assist, and kicking four goals from six attempts during the game.
This significant win was the Tigers' first success of the season, and the players visibly celebrated their performance, feeling renewed confidence. Their attacking prowess exhibited on Sunday afternoon hinted at potentially greater successes to come.
The Tigers now look to build on this momentum as they aim to string together successive victories. Following their commendable showing, they are poised to become increasingly competitive, raising expectations around the club. Conversely, the Eels face tough challenges, needing to address their lack of creativity on offense and bolster their defensive strategies to avoid future setbacks as they gear up for upcoming games.
Moving forward, both teams must reflect on this match's lessons: for the Tigers, it's about building on their strengths, and for the Eels, it necessitates recalibrations to recover and regain their footing within the tournament. Only time will tell how they will respond to this defining moment of their season.