Sunia Turuva hat-trick fires Tigers past Eels in 32-6 rout

The Wests Tigers delivered a resounding 32-6 victory over the struggling Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium, piling pressure on Eels coach Jason Ryles while showcasing their defensive resilience and attacking flair.

The win marked the Tigers’ first of the NRL season, with winger Sunia Turuva stealing the show with a hat-trick.

The match remained scoreless for 26 minutes before the floodgates opened, with the Tigers priced as the $1.65 favourites with the top rugby league bookmakers, running in three tries in quick succession before halftime to take a commanding 16-0 lead.

Turuva’s dominance continued in the second half, adding two more tries as the Tigers stormed to a 32-0 advantage before a late Sean Russell try spared the Eels from a shutout.

NRL Round 2 Highlights: Parramatta Eels vs West Tigers

Eels fans voiced their frustrations before kickoff, booing star playmaker Dylan Brown after his decision to sign a record-breaking 10-year deal with Newcastle.

Brown had a quiet game, struggling to impose himself in attack, while replacement half Ronald Volkman took on most of the playmaking duties in the absence of injured halfback Mitchell Moses.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall was particularly pleased with his side’s defensive efforts, noting their ability to withstand pressure and control the game.

“We asked for a way to play today – win the game early and score points late – and I thought we adopted that mindset really well,” he said.

“Our defensive resolve was the biggest thing for me. The boys kept turning up, especially on the goal line.”

Parramatta, meanwhile, slumped to 0-2 to start the season, conceding 88 points in their first two games.

Ryles acknowledged his side’s defensive lapses and lack of execution in attack.

“We had opportunities but didn’t capitalise, and then we had some individual lapses in concentration that really hurt us,” he said.

“We just have to stick together and keep working on the areas that need improvement.”

Captain Junior Paulo dismissed the sweltering 37-degree heat as an excuse for the team’s poor performance.

“We played in the same heat last week in Melbourne. We just didn’t turn up with the right intent,” he said.

The Tigers’ new-look spine, featuring Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin in the halves, continues to gel, with Marshall saying there’s still plenty of improvement to come.

“We’re still finding our style, but I thought our spine combined really well today,” he said.

“We’re not going to get carried away—it’s just one win – but it’s something to build on.”

For the Eels, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier, with tough clashes against the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles looming.

Ryles hinted at possible changes, with playmaker Dean Hawkins among those pushing for selection.

“We’ll assess things this week, but we need to find solutions fast,” he said.

With the Tigers showing signs of life, BetOnline currently has them priced at $41 to win the 2025 Premiership.

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