How the Wests Tigers NRL players stay motivated after such heart breaking losses as the one we saw at Campbelltown on Friday night is anybody’s guess.
This column rarely strays into the twilight zone of “blame the referee’’ after our team goes down.
Our view is that referees are humans, and humans make mistakes, whether out on the field or in a bunker looking at multiple screens.
Sure, most of the losses by the Wests Tigers in 2023 have been due to their own inability to score more points than their opponents.
But for years now they have also been at the wrong end of most 50-50 calls by the on field referee.
And that’s precisely what happened on Friday night.
One Canberra try should not have been awarded simply because Luke Brooks was pushed to the ground by an incoming Canberra attacker just a few metres from the touch down.
Search me, I have no idea where the ref was looking at the time.
And of course, with seconds left on the clock and the Wests Tigers ahead 19-18 after being down 18-0, he gives the Raiders a penalty right in front for a charge down that went ever so slightly wrong.
He could have decided that it was an accident – which it was – and played on.
Instead, Canberra were celebrating victory and Wests Tigers were left to ponder another close one.
Well, as they say in the classics, the beauty of footy is that there is always next week, and sure enough our next game is almost here.
Coach Tim Sheens has just named his 22-man squad for Thursday’s round 15 match against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium. The only change to last week’s 22-man squad is the inclusion of Shawn Blore.
Api Koroisau has been named to start at hooker after coming off the bench against the Raiders last Friday.
David Nofoaluma, pictured above making a break on Friday night, gets another chance to become the first player to score 100 tries for the joint venture club.
Go, Nofa!
TEAM LIST:
1. Jahream Bula
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Tommy Talau
5. Junior Tupou
6. Brandon Wakeham
7. Luke Brooks
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau (c)
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12. John Bateman
13. Fonua Pole
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Alex Seyfarth
16. Alex Twal
17. Asu Kepaoa
18. Daine Laurie
19. Shawn Blore
20. Aitasi James
21. Justin Matamua
22. Tallyn Da Silva
