Tigers end Bulldogs' horror NRL season
19 August 2005
Wests Tigers confirmed their tag as the hottest team in the NRL with a 54-2 thrashing of the Bulldogs which all but ended the premiers' injury-plagued season.
The Tigers extended their club record winning streak to eight games to consolidate their top four position while the Dogs have only a mathematical shot at the finals and can start planning their end of season trip following a miserable week both on and off the field.
Bulldogs star forward Sonny Bill Williams was charged with drink driving on Wednesday and the club was forced to defend allegations that three players were ejected from a Central Coast nightclub recently for being intoxicated.
The Bulldogs suffered their fourth straight loss in front of a record crowd of 29,542 for a Tigers home game at the Olympic Stadium.
The premiers have conceded 110 points over their past two matches, including last week's 56-4 hiding at the hands of Parramatta - their worst defeat since 1935.
It was ironic that on a weekend of football celebrating the 1970s, it was the new breed of Tigers who emerged as the dominant force in the NRL, in particular electric halves Benji Marshall and Scott Prince.
New Zealand international centre Paul Whatuira bagged two of the Tigers' four tries in the opening half as the home side went to the break leading 24-2.
Former NSW fullback Brett Hodgson was again excellent in support play and grabbed a club record personal haul of 22 points from a try and nine goals.
The premiers applied all the pressure in the early stages but could only come up with a Luke Young penalty goal in the eighth minute
Wests used quick hands to create overlaps and grabbed two long-range tries, including an 80m effort to Marshall.
The 20-year-old five-eighth had a hand in a 47th minute try, knocking back a Robbie Farah grubber which rebounded off a Bulldogs defender for winger Pat Richards to score an easy try.
Sharp-shooter Hodgson slotted home his fifth conversion for a 30-2 scoreline and he then steamed onto a Todd Payten pass to cross under the posts in the 56th minute.
A clever "no look" pass from Prince to Hodgson in the 65th minute helped set up Whatuira's third try before the No.7 got a solo try with 10 minutes remaining.
Prince was involved in a late try to Richards which blew out the scoreline to 54-2.
I was being generous and waiting until next week to say see you next year to the doggies.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Tigers-end-Bulldogs-horror-NRL-season/2005/08/19/1124435143652.html
