Easter classic: Madden gets Tigers home in golden point thriller

 

Full-time: Easter Monday has again delivered big time as Benji Marshall's Tigers continued their 2026 renaissance with a gutsy win despite going down to 12 men for 10 minutes in the second half. Luke Laulilii had a great game with 227 run metres and five tackle breaks but spent 10 minutes in the bin for dangerous contact on Bailey Simonsson in the air.

85 min: Jock Madden lands the penalty goal and the Tigers are home 22-20 in a stunning contest. Tigers 22-20.

84 min: Jock Madden goes for field goal and misses but Dylan Walker is penalised for being inside the 10 metres. 

83 min: The Tigers fail to get a shot away and Adam Doueihi is forced to put in a chip kick which is dropped by Jack Williams.

82 min: Mitch Moses launches a monster field goal from 40 metres out but it just goes to the right. Tigers get a seven-tackle set.

81 min: The Eels kick off and the Tigers work it out of their own end. They are forced to kick from their own 40m line.

80 min: Mitch Moses goes for a Hail Mary field goal shot from his own side of halfway. Adam Doueihi goes back and cleans it up and runs over the sideline. A classic contest is going to golden point.

79 min: The Tigers get the ball back from the kick-off and a high tackle by Sam Tuivaiti hands Jock Madden a shot at penalty goal to square us up. Madden keeps his cool and makes the shot. 20-20

78 min: Mitch Moses steps up and nails the penalty goal from 20 metres out on a slight angle. Eels 20-18.

76 min: Mitch Moses puts on a huge step and gets into the back field and is about to try and get a chip kick in but Api Koroisau ankle taps him. Moses tries to jump to his feet and is clipped high by Samuela Fainu.

73 min: Sunia Turuva and Kai Pearce-Paul test the Eels defence before Adam Doueihi goes short side on the last play and is dragged down.

71 min: We are back to 13 on 13 as Luke Laulilii returns from the bin.

66 min: Tallyn Da Silva rockets a pass out of dummy half to Josh Addo-Carr on the short side but the winger can't handle.

65 min: A big play by Brian Kelly as he produces a one-on-one steal on Kai Pearce-Paul.

62 min: Apa Twidle's dream debut continues as Mitch Moses delivers a perfect cut-out pass for the 21-year-old to score again in the corner. Tallyn Da Silva takes over the kicking duties but misses from wide out. 18-18

60 min: Apa Twidle is activated as 18th man on NRL debut and comes up with a stunning put-down to score in the corner with his first touch. Twidle was hit hard by Jock Madden who flew across in cover but contorted himself and somehow stayed in play to score a miracle try. Mitch Moses misses the conversion. Tigers 18-14.

60 min: Luke Laulilii is penalised for a mid-air tackle on Bailey Simonsson who is twisted in the tackle and lands in an awkward position and has to leave the field on a medicab. Laulilii is penalised and sent to the sin bin for placing Simonsson in a dangerous position. Simonsson is taken to hospital with the club reporting he has suffered a dislocated ankle.

59 min: Jonah Pezet leaves the field for an HIA and Ryley Smith has to re-enter the game despite nursing a quad injury. Pezet passes his HIA but won't return due to a hamstring injury.

58 min: Razzle dazzle from the Tigers before the ball ends up with Sunia Turuva who dances with the defence and goes close but the Eels get across in numbers and hurl him into touch.

56 min: The Tigers go left but Adam Doueihi's final pass goes behind winger Luke Laulilii and into touch to let the Eels off the hook.

54 min: Jock Madden grubbers to the in goal, the Eels cover up. Mitch Moses' line dropout sails 10 metres over the sideline and the Tigers reload.

52 min: Rinse and repeat for Jock Madden kicking for Faaletino Tavana and the Eels are penalised for an escort.

49 min: Jock Madden goes for a repeat play to Faaletino Tavana's wing but Josh Addo-Carr stands tall under pressure and makes the catch.

43 min: A sensational try for Faaletino Tavana as he soars high to pull down a Jock Madden bomb before spinning through two defenders and slamming the ball down for the Tigers' third try on the bounce. Tigers 18-10.

Milestone man: In his 150th NRL game, Eels prop Jack Williams went within inches of a stunning solo try that would been just the 14th of his career. Williams racked up 107 run metres for the half including 40 metres on a powerful charge down the right after he had scooped up a loose ball. After turning Jahream Bula inside out with a sidestep, Williams was dragged down just short of the tryline when the Tigers scrambled back to wrap him up. He got to his feet to try and plunge over the line but the ball came free.

Pearce-Paul all power: The Tigers' English back-rower is laying claim to 'buy of the year' status as he continues an outstanding start to the season. Pearce-Paul was a constant danger on the right edge and came up with two try assists to go with two tackle breaks and 50 run metres from seven runs.

Half-time: The Tigers take a two-point lead to the sheds after a pulsating opening 40 minutes in front of a packed house at CommBank. The Tigers completed 20 of 24 sets and the Eels were 16 of 21 but it was the Tigers who came up with 30 tackle breaks to 15. 

38 min: Adam Doueihi makes an error and Jack Williams scoots away down the right and puts a brilliant step on Jahream Bula and looks certain to score but the Tigers shut him down and the Eels prop loses it.

35 min: On the back of a Brian Kelly error coming out of his own end the Tigers go right and Kai Pearce-Paul shows great footwork and strength before offloading for a trailing Jahream Bula to score. Jock Madden converts. Tigers 12-10.

34 min: The Tigers go high and Faaletino Tavana shows great athleticism to make the catch and hand it down to Kai Pearce-Paul who goes very close but is held up over the line.

29 min: Kai Pearce-Paul delivers a sweet offload for Adam Doueihi to score the Tigers' first try on the right edge. Jock Madden converts. Eels 10-6.

28 min: A head clash between defender Sean Russell and attacker Heamasi Makasini leaves the Eels centre in bad way. Russell is penalised and placed on report for rushing out of the line and making head contact with Makasini. The Parra man is sent for a HIA which he fails.

25 min: The Eels are on a roll with a six-again but Jonah Pezet chooses to chip ahead on the second tackle and the ball rolls dead to let the Tigers off the hook.

20 min: Another opportunity lost by the Tigers as Adam Doueihi runs around in circles before the defence shuts him down and he spills it.

18 min: The Eels then return the favour with a mistake by Bailey Simonsson on the first play.

17 min: Brian Kelly spills the kick-off and the Tigers take a midfield scrum and then drop the ball on first tackle through Luke Laulilii. 

15 min: The Eels go bang-bang as Junior Paulo powers through Api Koroisau to crash over from close range. Mitch Moses converts. Eels 10-0.

13 min: Mitch Moses tests the defensive line and is taken down by Jock Madden who is penalised for a high shot.

11 min: The Eels strike first after Bailey Simonsson shows great hands to pick up a Sean Russell pass and dive into the corner. Russell did superbly to beat two defenders before Simonsson had to get down low and pick the ball up off his bootlaces before plunging over. Mitch Moses pushes the conversion across the face. Eels 4-0.

9 min: Api Koroisau is penalised and placed on report for a hip drop on Kitione Kautoga.

8 min: Desperate online defence by the Eels keeps their line intact as Api Koroisau is shut down just two metres out.

6 min: The Tigers go to the air and the Eels are pinged for blocking the chasers. A second penalty for the Tigers who are camped in the red zone.

4 min: The first mistake of the day by the Eels and the Tigers send the ball to Kai Pearce-Paul who is taken high by Kitione Kautoga who is penalised and placed on report for a dangerous tackle.

Pre-game: A minute's silence in honour of former Eel Neville Glover, who passed away this week at the age of 70. In 1976, Glover played in the club’s inaugural first grade grand final appearance. His strong form led to representative honours, including two Test appearances for Australia against New Zealand in 1978. He also represented NSW City and later NSW in 1979 against Great Britain. Across seven seasons with the Parramatta Eels, Neville played 121 first grade games and scored 55 tries. The Eels players will wear black armbands today as a mark of respect.

Late Mail

Eels: No late changes on game day for Jason Ryles who was forced to navigate another week of injuries. Young gun Joash Papalii steps in at fullback in place of Isaiah Iongi (ankle) while the newly re-signed Charlie Guymer comes on to the bench after Matt Doorey went down with an ACL injury. Veteran forward Jack de Belin and fullback Apa Twidle were also added to the six-man interchange. 

Wests Tigers: Tristan Hope has been added to the six-man bench 90 minutes before kick-off with Bunty Afoa making way and lining up in the NSW Cup curtain-raiser. Young gun Faaletino Tavana retains his place on the wing, with Sunia Turuva to line up in the centres for the third-straight week.

Numbers Game

• The Eels have won four of their six Easter Monday clashes with Wests Tigers.
• Wests Tigers have defeated the Eels in three of their last four games at CommBank Stadium.
• Eels halfback Mitchell Moses requires three points for 500 points at CommBank Stadium.
• Wests Tigers centre Sunia Turuva has scored seven tries in his last four games against the Eels.
• Eels prop Jack Williams will make his 150th NRL appearance.