Finally, a tumultuous West Tigers season will come to an end at Leichhardt Oval this Saturday when they take on another team who’ll be glad to put the 2014 season behind them, the Sharks.The Tigers fall to their sixth straight loss, their ninth consecutive loss by a 13+ margin, when defeated 27 – 12 by the Raiders last week in Canberra.
Special Offer: $250 FREE BET on Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks
The Tigers trailed 12 – nil at the break and mounted a brief comeback in the second half with two tries within five minutes but the Raiders responded immediately and sealed the deal in the 80th minute.
With only a 55% completion rate, the Tigers were unable to build any momentum against the Tigers and the reshuffled line-up struggled for any cohesion.
Coming up against the Sharks, who themselves have only won one of their last eight, at least gives the Tigers to end a horrible season on some sort of positive note.
The Sharks were given 30.5 points start last week when travelling to Townsville to take on the Cowboys and given they had only won one of their last eight games, rightly so.
However the Sharks, whose regular starting line-up had been decimated by injuries and suspension, dug in for the fight and forced the Cowboys into golden point time.
The Cowboys Johnathan Thurston slotted the winning field goal that left the Sharks undeservedly, leaving North Queensland empty-handed.
It hasn’t been the first time the Sharks have pushed a top team this season, they’ve defeated the Panthers and twice, Roosters and Brisbane, who maybe have taken them too lightly.
They are on a relatively quick back up here from the Monday night game but a similar effort would be enough to account for the struggling Tigers.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Tigers have won five of the last seven matches but more recently, only one of the past three. That victory coming earlier this year when the outlasted the Sharks 22 – 20.
Whilst the Tigers have won the past two games played at his venue, both have gone right done to the wire with only a one and two points margin the difference.
It’s hard to take $1.41 about a side who, although has the superior line-up, has really struggled in the second half of the season and has lost its last six straight – all by 13+.
The Sharks with the start seems a more comfortable option.
TIP: Sharks +7.5 at $1.90 with Sportsbet.com.au + Register via this link for a $250 FREE BET!
Wests Tigers:
Jy Hitchcox, Pat Richards, Asipeli Fine, Chris Lawrence, Sitaleki Akauola, Blake Austin, Mitchell Moses, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), Matthew Lodge, Curtis Sironen, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Sauaso Sue, Martin Taupau, Ava Seumanufagai, Cory Paterson
Ins: Cory Paterson
Outs: Brenden Santi (dropped)
Other unavailables: Luke Brooks (hamstring, season), Dene Halatau (hamstring, season), Tim Simona (knee, season), David Nofoaluma (ACL, season), Braith Anasta (bicep, season), James Tedesco (knee, season), Liam Fulton (concussion, retired), Keith Lulia (neck, season), Keith Galloway (shoulder, season)
Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Blake Ayshford, Ricky Leutele,
Valentine Holmes, Daniel Holdsworth, Jeff Robson, Tim Robinson, Michael Lichaa, Matt Prior, Tinirau Arona, Tupou Sopoaga, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Pat Politoni, Junior Roqica, Sione Masima, Scott Sorenson
Ins: Michael Lichaa, Tinirau Arona
Outs: Patrice Siolo, Penani Manumalealii
