Eternal optimists,
As word filtered through from the House of Pain that the Moltzen kiddie had been ruled out after doing himself a mischief on the warm up track for gawd’s sake, with SC Sheens forced to conjure up another full-back out of thin air, and the try scoring freak Lawrence also a late withdrawal, as well as the Tigers contending with a five year old hoodoo having failed to beat the Eels in their last eight encounters, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was time to ask the last person leaving the league’s club to switch off the light.
The ensuing 80 minutes just went to show that when the Balmain forward pack is going forward and the club’s two ponies are on song, with Benji and the Best Leb in The Game both vying for man of the match honours, the Tiges are still capable of beating any given side on any given day.
Tuiakai, who was described mid week as “the human wrecking ball”, also had a blinder, which never hurts – except for the blokes he runs into or puts a coathanger tackle on.
That said, with more players drawing payments from the Injured Players’ Benevolent Fund than are actually appearing on the training paddock week in week out, and Farah clutching at his ribs after booting a well timed tactical second half field goal with an experimental football that appeared to have been filled with helium to put the Eels two scores behind, and a cursory glace at the premiership table revealing that just six points separates fifth from 12th; hope must spring eternal.
Certainly that’s the case among the traveling die-hards, with seasoned observers at the ground noting that on a Monday night where it didn’t matter if the beers were served warm as they’d soon get cold enough in the Antarctic conditions, more Tigers fans braved the elements than did Parramatta supporters.
PARRAMATTA EELS 6. Tries: Burt. Goals: Burt (1).
WESTS TIGERS 23. Tries: Halatau, Mataka, Farah, Tuiaki. Goals: Marshall (3). Field Goals: Farah (1).
At Parramatta Stadium.
Crowd: 12,003.
Not much word has leaked of what was said and done at the traditional mid-season BBQ round at SC Roos place, although it seems there was plenty of room for some soul searching over a Fosters and a well charred hamburger patty.
However, a little birdie has been singing that senior administrators and various Pooh-Bah’s associated with the club did discuss and decide under a shade tree in a quiet corner beside the lap pool, that failure to beat Collingwood at the Western Paddock this Saturday night, and a similar result in the following away game against Adelaide, would undoubtedly mean ‘season over’, and automatically spark a wholesale review of the playing roster and the tap tap tap on various old and burnt out shoulders.
SC Roos would also be asked to clarify his future intentions.
Also interesting to note that the Swans’ two draft picks didn’t make it to the BBQ, after it was revealed they aren’t even in Sydney, let alone training.
Both are in Melbourne, nursing niggles, and studying for their end of school exams.
Did note also that at least a couple of players who could be in for a gold watch decided to eschew the social event altogether, and take themselves off to the south coast to “find some space”.
Perhaps they might have been better served with a visit to the Room Full of Mirrors down on the Balmain Road?
SYDNEY: Mid season bye.
