The Sun Weekly, Footy 2005 by Steve Carter. Thursday 22nd September.
Tigers have Panthers look.
I sure am glad that the NRL tipping competitions finish after the regular season, because I've been well off the mark with my selections - except for the two obvious choices from the first week of the play offs.
The West Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys knocked out the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm last weekend, the two teams I rated as chances to take out the the title.
Midway through the season I highlighted the form of the Tigers, and in summing up I said time would tell if they can continue on their fairytale season. Well, so far they've met every challenge put before them. In fact, they now have me comparing them to the giant-killing Penrith Panthers team of 2003.
For starters, they play a very similar style of care-free football. The Tigers team make-up is also similar to that of the 2003 Panthers. They have creative halves, dangerous outside backs, and an ever present fullback. The only difference is that the Tigers lack the two huge back-rowers that the Panthers possessed in 2003. But I think the Tigers have been getting plenty of mileage out of their claims that they have only a little forward pack.
I would love to see the Tiger Cubs eliminate the more fancied Dragons this Saturday night. The Tigers are a side that nobody, bar themselves, even rated as a chance to make the semi-finals. Obviously the entire club believes in its ability, and has a lot of us standing up and taking notice now.
I sat and watched last Sunday's match at my local, and it was great to see all of the Tigers fans revelling in their teams success. I actually followed Balmain as a kid, until I joined Penrith, so I still have a soft spot for them.
There were many critics of Super League who were critical of the merger between Wests and Balmain, two great clubs steeped in tradition. But I'm sure a lot of those critics were cheering the Tigers on at the weekend. I see it as a great partnership. At the time of the merger neither club was financially viable. And both clubs were struggling at the bottom of the competition table.
Even the fan bases of the two original clubs suit each other. Both clubs were labelled as Westies at different stages of their histories, and the majority of thier supporters are working class people who love a beer.
There has been plenty said about Super League, with plenty of people claiming the "ARL Hill" of the higher moral ground. But really, every individual involved - players, administrators, referees and commentators - did what was best for them, and their families.
One good outcome from the Super League era that is being realised now has to be the coming together of these two great clubs that have grown into the force that we are witnessing now.
If it were not for the merger, the Tigers and Magpies fans would probably be watching their team participating in the Jim Beam Cup by now.
There will be no excuses for the Dragons if they do falter at the finals hurdle this year, just as there were no excuses for the Broncos last Sunday. It may be time for a change at the helm north of the border. As much as I rate the Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, sometimes clubs just need a change. He has had two or three chances to qualify for the Grand Final in recent years, but has come short every time.
