'11 | Finals Wk 1 | Fri | Tigers 21-12 Dragons | ANZ

[Hutty1986]

No. Not "somehow". Based on recent form and the players' set to return for the Tigers. But please, continue stating the obvious with gems like:

Wow, start well and step it up another gear. Anymore pearls of wisdom there super coach?

:lol: So you have a few guys back and suddenly you're certainties? You have had an incredibly soft run-in to the finals and it sounds as though the refs helped you scrape past the Sharks last week. Keep telling yourself the Tigers "should" win, but that's not the case at all. Will be a thriller and a genuine 50/50 game.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

:lol: So you have a few guys back and suddenly you're certainties? You have had an incredibly soft run-in to the finals

which included wins against you guys and Manly in back to back weeks, and an 8 match winning streak, which is always difficult otherwise more teams would do it.

and it sounds as though the refs helped you scrape past the Sharks last week.

"Sounds as though"? So you're basing part of your view on a game you didn't actually watch? :lol::lol::lol:

Keep telling yourself the Tigers "should" win, but that's not the case at all.

OK mate, seeing as you said so!

Will be a thriller and a genuine 50/50 game.

I think it will be a thriller as well, I just believe we should win. Do you expect opposing team fans to think we "should" lose? You muppet.

 

[Hutty1986]

which included wins against you guys and Manly in back to back weeks, and an 8 match winning streak, which is always difficult otherwise more teams would do it.
"Sounds as though"? So you're basing part of your view on a game you didn't actually watch? :lol::lol::lol:
OK mate, seeing as you said so!
I think it will be a thriller as well, I just believe we should win. Do you expect opposing team fans to think we "should" lose? You muppet.

I had no reason to watch a game the Tigers should have won by 20 :lol:

Ah well, pointless argument. Got my tickets yesterday, PAX then was 34,317! Hopefully 40k+ and a clear night in Syd

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I had no reason to watch a game the Tigers should have won by 20 :lol:

That I agree with. Disappointing performance, but with regular players missing and after 7 straight wins and a short turn-around, you can somewhat understand the flat performance. Main thing is we won and when the pressure was applied, we responded and put points on the board.

 

[gronkathon]

I hope for a good performance.

If we are outplayed than so be it. Just want the Tigers to turn up and not be a dissapointment in the game because lord knows we have it in us to do so.

Wet conditions are a real possibility and the speed of the ruck and 10m policing will play a big part in the result

 

[Firey_Dragon]

That I agree with. Disappointing performance, but with regular players missing and after 7 straight wins and a short turn-around, you can somewhat understand the flat performance. Main thing is we won and when the pressure was applied, we responded and put points on the board.

Tigers have looked far from brilliant in their last 3 matches tbh and against some pretty poor opposition to boot.

They've had some great scalps in their 8 game streak, but they've looked to be tapering off for a few weeks. It would be a monumental run if they win the GF undefeated from here. It's shaping up to be a quality game, I think we've turned a corner and the Tigers won't be able to have the lapses they've had in recent weeks against us.

It'll definitely be a close one and I expect both teams to lift

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Mate, you're not going to find one Tigers fan happy with our performances over the past month of football. Having said that, we've beaten teams we were expected to beat, despite a continuing injury toll and fast-gathering expectations.

As gronk said, all we hope for is a good performance, like the semi last year. I remember leaving the stadium disappointed with the result, but pleased with the performance.

If Lawrence really is out, then it will make it a lot harder for us, but I still believe the players there have the ability to win. Interspersed with long periods of flatness in our play recently, there's been some freakish moments so I'm confident we can score against anybody at any time.

Can't believe I've got to get through today and tomorrow of work, this week has gone so long already just want the game to get here!

 

[to_ddeath]

Mate, you're not going to find one Tigers fan happy with our performances over the past month of football. Having said that, we've beaten teams we were expected to beat, despite a continuing injury toll and fast-gathering expectations.

As gronk said, all we hope for is a good performance, like the semi last year. I remember leaving the stadium disappointed with the result, but pleased with the performance.

If Lawrence really is out, then it will make it a lot harder for us, but I still believe the players there have the ability to win. Interspersed with long periods of flatness in our play recently, there's been some freakish moments so I'm confident we can score against anybody at any time.

Can't believe I've got to get through today and tomorrow of work, this week has gone so long already just want the game to get here!

Fair points made there.
From a supporter on the other side I'm exactly the same, just wish Friday night would hurry the f*ck up and arrive. You have every right to be confident of a strong display from your guys as much as we are of our own guys.
May the best team win, & may dodgy ref BS not get in the way of what is hopefully a top quality finals game...I still think this one can go either way.


T.

 

[Jason Maher]

The Tigers streak reminds me a bit of ours at the back end of 05. We hit the finals with 7 straight, but a woeful performance against the wooden spoon Knights, and extended that with a lacklustre win against a rubbish Sharks side in the first week of the finals. And then we hit a red hot Tigers side.

The point being that a winning streak can hide some pretty poor form. You could even look at our 9 straight earlier this year.

So we have a Tigers side on the back of an 8-game streak but with some pretty poor form in the last few against poor opposition, up against a Dragons team that was gone for all money 3 weeks ago, before jagging a win against the Warriors and flogging a committed but rubbish Penrith team.

How you draw a form line through that to pick a winner, I have no idea. Let's hope for a repeat of our last match, minus the referee-infested last 2 minutes.

 

[gronkathon]

Its difficult to judge although Sheens admitted in the press post Sharks game that he and Folkesy had been flogging them at training which could account for the poorer linespeed etc.

Agree with all and wish the game could come sooner

 

[Sleep]

While the Tigers haven't looked great of late in their wins, the Dragons have only won two of how many recently and their last up was against a pretty ordinary Penrith side.

The Dragons certainly aren't anywhere near their best and aren't firing either. Against the Warriors their defense was downright awful at times.

On form I'd say the Tigers look better than the Dragons do.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

While the Tigers haven't looked great of late in their wins, the Dragons have only won two of how many recently and their last up was against a pretty ordinary Penrith side.

The Dragons certainly aren't anywhere near their best and aren't firing either. Against the Warriors their defense was downright awful at times.

On form I'd say the Tigers look better than the Dragons do.

Penrith were pretty damn good in attack in the first half against us. The result itself is meaningless, but defensively we've seen steady improvement for the last 3 weeks. The big thing for the dragons against penrith was the fluency in attack, we haven't seen that in 3-4 months.

I don't think anyone is arguing that Wests have the form, what people are saying is that 8 wins on the trot isn't necessarily an indication of that form. It can mask some flaws in a game, had the tigers played some decent opposition in the last few weeks, there would have been a loss in there somewhere. The 5 wins straight prior to that had some real quality performances though.

 

[Bazzi]

1 more sleep to go!

 

[Lowdown]

The loser of this one will have a very nervous wait ahead of them. I think there's every chance that 2 of the top 3 teams will get beat.

Warriors are evens I reckon to beat Broncs. Manly are looking a little unsteady, and losing Stewart is huge loss. And we know the Storm have previously slipped up on a 1v8 match...

Go Tiges. Go Warriors. Go Cows!

 

[Hutty1986]

The loser of this one will have a very nervous wait ahead of them. I think there's every chance that 2 of the top 3 teams will get beat.

Warriors are evens I reckon to beat Broncs. Manly are looking a little unsteady, and losing Stewart is huge loss. And we know the Storm have previously slipped up on a 1v8 match...

Go Tiges. Go Warriors. Go Cows!

Do you think so? I think the Warriors are a huge chance (if they're on) but I daresay manly & Melb will book their prelim final spots fairly comfortably

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

When is the Lawrence fitness test going to take place?

 

[Tiger Hawk]

^ You'd think they'd give him up to tomorrow morning

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

A fit Lawrence makes a big difference to that Tigers team.

I remember when he cam back from injury this year (might have been agasinst us?) and I was expecting him to take a while to get back into the swing of it and he was on fire from the start.

Im looking forward to Youngy smashing that hoax Farah again.

 

[Vic Mackey]

You mean calling him a Mediterranean Descendant again??

Despite 90% of saints fans being ones...

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

No, just scoring a try over/through him.