The Wests Tigers missed a golden opportunity to move up the NRL ladder tonight, when they found a way to lose a game they should have won.
In front of a miserable crowd of just over 6,000 hardy souls on a cold Campbelltown night, Robbie Farah’s decimated team just couldn’t take a trick against a Melbourne Storm determined to prove to critics they are a genuine premiership contender.
Speaking of the miserable crowd figure, here’s hoping Tigers CEO Grant Mayer thinks before he speaks this time and doesn’t threaten Campbelltown with ”no more games for you lot”.
But back to the game, won 28-6 by the visitors, and the locals who looked early on as though they were going to lap the Melburnians.
I reckon a few punters rang their SP bookie to change their selections after 15 minutes, that’s how good Robbie Farah’s boys were going.
But a dubious refereeing decision here, a poor judgement by a Wests winger there, and the next 20 minutes of the first half were the pivotal ones in how the match ended.
Ironically, it was an outside back, Marika Koroibete, released by the Tigers to the Storm just a few weeks ago, who sealed the fate of his former team, with two easy as you like tries on the left edge during that period.
The game was as good as over then, even though the Wests Tigers had a sustained 15 minute period after the break when they attacked the Storm line but just could not breach it.
It has to be said, the Storm defence was incredible tonight. If they can maintain it for another 6-7 weeks they may even win the 2014 NRL comp.
As for the hapless Wests Tigers, they could end up fourth or fourth last, but who can tell the way they’re playing
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