Sad stat is everything wrong with Tigers

The Wests Tigers’ two-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt on Sunday afternoon after yet another collapse.

This time, the Tigers fell to a 40-12 loss at the hands of local rivals Parramatta and one stat proved just how mercurial the joint venture can be.

It was the third time this season the Tigers have conceded tries in three consecutive sets.

Jacob Liddle crossed the chalk just before the break to helped Michael Maguire’s side take the momentum into halftime, despite trailing by eight points.

However, any hopes of three consecutive wins were quickly dashed, with Parramatta triumvirate Waqa Blake, Mitchell Moses and Maika Sivo each running in four-pointers in the space of four minutes.

The Eels face the Bulldogs next weekend. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses went from zero to hero in a stunning 15-minute transformation that blew the Wests Tigers away at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday night.

The Eels led by just eight at halftime but a Moses-inspired three-try blitz in the first 10 minutes of the second half set-up a resounding 40-12 victory.

From holding his head in his hands to holding it high as man-of-the-match, Moses scored a try and engineered two more early in the second half after earlier botching an easy four-pointer.

The No. 7 swallowed a Clint Gutherson grubber kick four minutes from halftime, diving over for what appeared a certain try and a 20-0 lead to the Eels.

But when the Bunker put it under the microscope, it found the smallest of knock-ons and denied the try.

The Tigers made the most of the let off, sweeping up the other end of the field and scoring through Jacob Liddle.

Just like that, a 20-point advantage was cut to a nervous eight-point lead and it was game back on.

“It was the bombed try of the year. At 20-0 it was game over,” four-time premiership winner Cooper Cronk said.

Moses could have crawled in a hole but took it upon himself to make up for the embarrassing mistake.

It was his roof-high bomb just after the break that forced a dropped ball from Tigers fullback Daine Laurie, leaving Waqa Blake to pick up the scraps and score under the posts.

Moses did it all himself two minutes later, slicing through and outpacing the defence in a thrilling 65m run to the line.

As an encore, he produced a couple of double pumps before sending Maika Sivo over in the corner and kicking the sideline conversion on 50 minutes.

It swept Parramatta to an unassailable 32-6 lead – all three tries coming while Tigers forward Shawn Blore was in the sin bin for a professional foul.

“I think he owed the side that and he’s repaid them very quickly,” Parramatta great Peter Sterling said of Moses’ one-man show.

The home side never looked in danger of defeat from there.

Moses finished with 20 points from a try and eight goals.

Eels forward Isaiah Papali’i finished the game in the sin bin after being reported for dropping a knee on Luciano Leilua.

How the west was lost

Roadworks outside Bankwest Stadium force motorists into a series of one-way lanes to get to the ground.

The traffic in this Battle of the West has been similarly headed in the one direction for some time.

You have to go back to 2018 when a bloke by the name of Ivan Cleary was in charge to find the last time Wests Tigers beat Parramatta.

Since that day, the Eels have won seven straight against the joint venture club.

The Tigers were all heart and determination, especially during the first half when field position and possession were against them.

But unforced errors, ill-discipline and a poor start to the second half cost them dearly.

The visitors hinted at a comeback when James Roberts crossed shortly after Sivo was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Adam Doueihi midway through the second half.

Old bad habits then crept back in and the opportunity was lost.

Joey’s love for Joey

Any club out there looking for a hooker might want to contact Joey Lussick’s manager ASAP.

The Eels No. 9 only received his chance through injury to Reed Mahoney but made the most of his call-up, scoring a try and giving great service out of dummy half to keep the attack humming.

Immortal Andrew Johns, who works with the Parramatta playmakers, makes no secret of his admiration.

“He’s an out and out first grader. His passing is dynamite, he knows when to run and he has speed out of dummy half,” Johns said.

NSW coach Brad Fittler added: “You talk about his speed but he’s got strength and power as well.”

Lussick is one of 11 Parramatta players off contract at the end of the season.

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