Loyalists,
Having lived in the heart of the Canterbury-Bankstown district for the best part of the last 12 years, there really is nothing more pleasing in rugby league than to see the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs go down in a screaming heap, whip-sawed by the Mighty Tigers, and robbed of what was rightfully theirs – to wit, the JJ Giltinan Shield, aka the Minor Premiership.
Sweet!
Not even the Roosters collecting the wooden spoon can better that.
Strange that once the pressure if off as you know you are gorn for all money in the race for the finals, the Tigers thrash a team with pretensions to lift the Winfield Cup.
Still, the best way to finish off a season in which the boys from down on the Balmain Road were perhaps the toughest team to follow.
So near and yet so far.
Balmain is undoubtedly the best team, in any code for that matter, not to make the top eight – just one point or half a win shy.
The likes of Newcastle etc etc will soon be shown up for the pretenders they are, while the Tiges could have given September a real shake, even without the Human Wrecking Ball.
Indeed, it’s the first time Wests has not made the finals since the Miracle Year of 2005.
But, there is no use in speculating, as all loyal fans can do is shake their heads, ponder fruitlessly on “what might have been”, and down another hospital strength brandy.
All well, it’s only a game.
On Mad Monday, SC Sheens made sure that he personally shouted a beer for every single player in the squad on the grounds that “most of ‘em tried their best”.
All a coach could ask for, really.
WESTS TIGERS 34. Tries: Ayshford, Lawrence, Moltzen, Galea, Marshall, Halatau. Goals: Marshall (5).
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 12. Tries: Patten, Morris. Goals: El Masri (2).
At Sydney Football Stadium.
Crowd: 17,375.
So there ends the Winter Game wire for another year.
Thanks for all your kind and constructive comments and suggestions, vile invective, unintelligible ravings and drunken ratings throughout the season.
It’s been a lot of fun.
Now, bring on the first class cricket season!
