Bear baiters,
Found myself on Saturday night tidying up a few loose ends from a minor mid-life crisis, so didn’t see a frame of the Tigers effort in Townsville.
Probably a good thing too, if you take a glance at the scorebox.
Appears the Balmain boys were competitive in the first half, but then were overwhelmed by the tropical heat and humidity, and the floodgates inevitably opened.
Seasoned observers at the ground were also reported as suggesting that Benji Marshall appeared to be “gun shy” in his new role as half back.
They say he looked to be unwilling to take the ball up over the advantage line in apparent fear of getting monstered by the opposition forwards [and who could blame him after two shoulder reconstructions?], and is therefore delivering the ball well inside the ten metres, producing a set of flat rucks and a flat-footed backline, that then finds it difficult to conjure anything much at all as they start running into brick walls.
It’s just a shame SC Sheens can’t hide him on the wing.
But then again, there’s probably no place to hide in modern rugby league anyway.
The first result of the new year, taken with this score from the second, and the tea leaves suggest that it could be “one of those seasons” – yet again.
In Melbourne mid-week on another pilgrimage to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, so there is a very slim possibility of getting along to The Dome on Saturday night for the Swans first season hit out against the Saints.
Much more likely be joining the legion of tifosi as they make their way around their favoured watering holes in the old home of the Swans – good ol’ South Melbourne – imagine with a few under the belt could get the “keep South at South” chant going.
There’d be a few takers.
Probably be more profitable to get along to The G on Thursday night and have a better time baiting Cuz.
The Iceman cometh.
North Queensland Cowboys 42. Tries: Kaufusi, Webb, Bowen, Burns, Payne, T.Williams, J.Williams, Goals: Thurston (7).
Wests Tigers 14. Tries: Tuiaki, Morris, Moltzen. Goals: Marshall (1).
At Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville.
Crowd: 19,879.
