Presented with a golden opportunity to put two premiership points in the bank, Wests Tigers meekly surrendered to cellar dwellers Canterbury Bulldogs last Friday.
The team was flat after two big efforts against top four sides St George and Souths, explained Wests Tigers head coach Ivan Cleary after the disappointing 16-4 capitulation to the Dogs.
Cleary must believe his troops will bounce back because he has named the same 21 man squad to take on the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium this Friday, August 3 from 6pm.
There’s just one change: Elijah Taylor will captain the side against the Knights, taking the reins over from Russell Packer.
The Tigers were never out of the game against the Bulldogs – but in truth they were never really in it either.
With the exception of the always exceptional Corey Thompson, and youngster Luke Garner, everyone else lacked energy during the 80 minutes.
There was hardly an offload in the first half, a huge contrast to the brilliant performance against Souths.
But this was the Bulldogs and even at 16-4 true fans were hopeful of a sudden burst of energy from someone that would result in enough points to steal the game.
It never came, which was a bit of anticlimax after two exhilarating wins against quality opposition.
But just when you thought it was safe to say, better luck next year, Tigers, those perennial end of season chokers, the NZ Warriors, also lost on the weekend.
It means Wests are just four points away from a top eight spot, instead of six, and where there’s life there’s hope.
Hopefully they won’t waste the opportunity to bank two premiership points by accounting for the Knights this Friday night.
WESTS TIGERS
- Moses Mbye
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Esan Marsters
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Corey Thompson
6. Benji Marshall
7. Luke Brooks
8. Russell Packer
9. Robbie Farah
10. Ben Matulino
11. Michael Chee Kam
12. Luke Garner
13. Elijah Taylor (c)
INTERCHANGE
14. Alex Twal
15. Sauaso Sue
16. Robbie Rochow
17. Matt Eisenhuth
18. Jacob Liddle
19. Chris McQueen
20. Pita Godinet
21. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
