Individual errors and a questionable obstruction call give Wests Tigers a 21-18 win over Parramatta Eels

VIDEO: WESTS Tigers claim an impressive Easter Monday win in a thriller against Parramatta in front of 50,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.

THERE was enough of the new Parramatta and Wests Tigers in Monday night’s game to confirm both are the real deal.

And there was just enough of the old to make all 50,668 fans more than a little nervous, in that edge-of-the-seat way.

Tigers Luke Brooks in action.

In the end, the game was going to be won by the team that held its composure best.

Both were admirable in this respect.

For a while early Jarryd Hayne was putting himself in that familiar position of his, star of the night.

He scored the Eels first two tries and had the Tigers on the retreat as the Eels took the early upper hand.

But then the great strength of the Tigers emerged.

Tigers forward Keith Galloway loses the ball.

When both clubs went to their forwards rotation midway through the first half it was Wests who came out better.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur certainly anticipated as much.

He switched Fui Fui Moi Moi to the bench an hour before kick-off in a bid to match the Tigers rotational thrust.

The Tigers worked their way back in to the game and by halftime trailed just 8-6.

It was that sort of match, two teams giving in response to a crowd that finally had something to be proud about, until it all went on the line with 15 minutes left.

Tigers winger Pat Richards kicks a penalty goal from halfway.

How much was grit, and how much was simply stardust?

The Tigers led 18-14 but Parramatta responded.

First there was the Will Hopoate no try. Don’t say referees don’t have memories like Dumbo.

As the Eels ran their block plays David Gower ran through the line and brushed Luke Brooks with a bump that wouldn’t have knocked the dandruff from his shoulders.

Yet Brooks fell like there was a marksman in the stands.

Will Hopoate goes in but the try is disallowed after video ref ruled obstruction.

It put video referees Steve Clark and Andrew Dunemann exactly where they didn’t want to be. In the box with a decision to make and the game on the line.

No try, they ruled, and while it will be debated late into tonight and possibly tomorrow, the decision was alleviated somewhat when, four minutes later, Hayne again stood up.

He threw a lovely cut out pass that put Ken Sio up the sideline and deep in Tigers territory.

Brooks cut him down, a try saver, but as the Tigers scrambled to set their line Parramatta spread the ball across the field until Joseph Paulo showed the composure the Eels are encouraged by to loop a lovely overhead pass to an unmarked Semi Radradra on the opposite edge.

The Eels were in, the score was level.

Chris Sandow paced his kick back, talking to himself the whole while, but steered it wide to keep the score at 18-all.

Tigers Luke Brooks watches a field goal go over.

But just as it looked headed for golden point enough of the old Parramatta emerged to remind everybody that it was never going to be easy.

From the set after the restart, Tim Mannah dropped the ball.

It was a simple hit-up, a simple loss of concentration, and the pressure now switched to the Tigers.

How well could these new Tigers keep it together?

How much of the old Tigers were still in them?

Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne scores a try.

They had the ball in good enough field position to set up their field goal if they were good enough, composed enough.

Once again young Brooks, still only 19, delivered.

He put the Tigers ahead 19-18 with two minutes to play, sealing the game and confirming the new future not just for his club himself, but for himself.

WESTS TIGERS 21 (B Austin L Brooks P Richards tries P Richards 4 goals L Brooks field goal) bt PARRAMATTA 18 (J Hayne 2 S Radradra K Sio tries C Sandow goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 50,668.