The end of this frustrating, miserable season can’t come quickly enough for most Wests Tigers fans.
That has been the main take out from them on social media since the disappointing 34-18 loss to the Knights at Newcastle on Sunday.
And who can blame them when after 23 rounds they’ve been able to celebrate a win just four times.
They’ve been close a number of times, but close enough is just not good enough when it comes to footy fans.
Once again the side coached by Benji Marshall showed plenty of signs they’re building a team that could compete for honours next season and beyond.
Jahream Bula had a wonderful game, scoring a brilliant try off a bomb.
It’s tempting but we won’t claim that not getting anyone sinbinned for the first time in a little while is an improvement.
But whether fans like it or not there are three more games to go, starting with South Sydney at Campbeltown this Saturday night.
In round 25 the Tigers host Manly at Leichhardt Oval, followed by a bye in Round 26, before returning to Campbelltown to take on Parramatta in the final round of the competition.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is taking it one game at a time and has just named a 22-man squad for the Rabbitohs match at Campbelltown.
There are just a couple of changes following last week’s loss to the Knights.
Luke Laulilii will play his first match since suffering a head knock in Round 21, replacing Solomon Alaimalo on the wing.
Alex Seyfarth will start in the second row, replacing Reuben Porter, with Sione Fainu added to the bench.
Aidan Sezer has been cleared to play after being forced from the field with a knee injury last weekend.
TEAM LIST:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Luke Laulilii
3. Solomona Faataape
4. Adam Doueihi
5. Charlie Staines
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Isaiah Papali’i
INTERCHANGE:
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Fonua Pole
17. Alex Twal
RESERVES:
18. Latu Fainu
There is no hope for the Tigers until they make the decision to make Campbelltown MacArthur their home as more supporters now live in MacArthur than the inner suburbs and eventually there will by over 1.5 million people living in tge area and we have a stadium that can be updated to serve big crowd in NRL and soccer . It is time our MPs realise the Abor MP now determine the fate of government so the funds shoul be made available not in inner Sydney as there are several major stadium in the inner areas
I’m so tired of all the excuses, year after year. The cliche’s of “the other team were just too good/it’s disappointing, etc.,” has become nothing but ad nauseum. Add to that the constant blaming of the coaches. In the end the players have to start having a good look at themselves and pull their fingers out.
Hopefully with a newer crew of players peppered with some of the more experienced ones to build them up, will see some positive changes from next year on.