Now that SOO and other representative games are done until the end of the NRL season, the focus now shifts to which teams are going to make their run for the Top 8 and feature heavily. It was mentioned in the Round 18 Power Rankings that perhaps the Top 8 teams are now set and it is now just a matter of who will finish where. The Tigers currently sit in 8th place and two points away from 7th (assuming that the Cowboys already have their points from their bye this weekend). The worse thing about their situation is that they only have a points difference of +8. They really need to get moving otherwise they will face a sudden death situation from the beginning of the semi finals. They have a fairly tough run home too, so this game almost becomes a must win match for them if they want to finish higher than 8th. Recently, they have lost their past two matches and will be looking to come out firing in this match after a week off with the bye. One thing that the Tigers of recent years have shown us, they are a tremendous football team at the business end of the season and have the ability to produce some amazing performances. They will need their stars all firing together. The Dogs sit 2nd and having a look at their run home, they are definitely a chance of winning the Minor Premiership. But no doubt that is at the back of their minds and will just look to continue playing the great football that has them at the right end of the table. Against the Storm, they were fantastic in defence and scored some amazing tries (see this video of Ben Barba's effort). They have to continue on "flying under the radar", but with each performance, they seem to get better and better. They are the real deal at this point of the season but this will be a great measure of where they are at as teams begin to focus on September.
Wests Tigers
Obviously the first question that will be asked, is whether or not Farrah will back up from SOO on Wednesday. He played a fantastic game and it was up until the dying minutes where he made a crucial mistake that unfortunately, people will remember most. But the breaking news is that he is out. This is a massive blow to the Tigers and I am unsure of who will replace him but it probably will be Tom Humble, but stay tuned to my twitter feed for more information. The rest of the Tigers team should be feeling pretty fresh after a bye week. The bye couldn't have come at a better time for the Tigers as they had lost 2 games in a row. Beau Ryan has been moved to fullback to cover for Tim Moltzen who has succumbed to a hamstring injury. The Tigers will lose nothing with Ryan moving there. The games in which he has played fullback have been some of his best. He is a noted funny man off the field but he is certainly improving his on field performance. The Tigers also receive a boost with both Curtis Sironen and Liam Fulton named to make their return from injury in this game, both in the starting team. Sironen will play 5/8 and Fulton is named to start in the second row alongside Adam Blair. Matt Bell moves back to the interchange bench to make way for Fulton and Ayshford has been dropped altogether for Sironen. The Tigers have also named an extended bench that also feature Joel Reddy and Tom Humble.
Obviously the first question that will be asked, is whether or not Farrah will back up from SOO on Wednesday. He played a fantastic game and it was up until the dying minutes where he made a crucial mistake that unfortunately, people will remember most. But the breaking news is that he is out. This is a massive blow to the Tigers and I am unsure of who will replace him but it probably will be Tom Humble, but stay tuned to my twitter feed for more information. The rest of the Tigers team should be feeling pretty fresh after a bye week. The bye couldn't have come at a better time for the Tigers as they had lost 2 games in a row. Beau Ryan has been moved to fullback to cover for Tim Moltzen who has succumbed to a hamstring injury. The Tigers will lose nothing with Ryan moving there. The games in which he has played fullback have been some of his best. He is a noted funny man off the field but he is certainly improving his on field performance. The Tigers also receive a boost with both Curtis Sironen and Liam Fulton named to make their return from injury in this game, both in the starting team. Sironen will play 5/8 and Fulton is named to start in the second row alongside Adam Blair. Matt Bell moves back to the interchange bench to make way for Fulton and Ayshford has been dropped altogether for Sironen. The Tigers have also named an extended bench that also feature Joel Reddy and Tom Humble.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Bulldogs only have Josh Morris to worry about returning from SOO but that is a small worry in itself. Morris appeared to cop a knock to the head late in the match but no doubt he will be able to back up. He was one of NSW best players in that match and deserves every bit of credit that he gets. In a very late and controversial late season move, Sam Perrett will make his debut for the Bulldogs in this clash. They have obtained a fantastic player here and Perrett will be out to prove a point. Otherwise, the Bulldogs retain the same team that handed it to the Storm in Mackay in Round 16. They have named an extended bench that features 6 players so two will drop off there. One can only assume that Luke McDougall was named there in case Morris was injured. The Bulldogs continue to put in fantastic attacking performances but it was their defence that people would have noticed in their win over the Storm. Storm captain Cameron Smith also made point of in it a post match interview that it had been the hardest he was hit this season.
The Bulldogs only have Josh Morris to worry about returning from SOO but that is a small worry in itself. Morris appeared to cop a knock to the head late in the match but no doubt he will be able to back up. He was one of NSW best players in that match and deserves every bit of credit that he gets. In a very late and controversial late season move, Sam Perrett will make his debut for the Bulldogs in this clash. They have obtained a fantastic player here and Perrett will be out to prove a point. Otherwise, the Bulldogs retain the same team that handed it to the Storm in Mackay in Round 16. They have named an extended bench that features 6 players so two will drop off there. One can only assume that Luke McDougall was named there in case Morris was injured. The Bulldogs continue to put in fantastic attacking performances but it was their defence that people would have noticed in their win over the Storm. Storm captain Cameron Smith also made point of in it a post match interview that it had been the hardest he was hit this season.
Recent History
Overall = Tigers 9 - Bulldogs 13
Last 5 games = Tigers 2 - Bulldogs 3
At Allianz Stadium = Tigers 1 - Bulldogs 1
Last 5 games = Tigers 2 - Bulldogs 3
At Allianz Stadium = Tigers 1 - Bulldogs 1
Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Tigers $2.65 Bulldogs $1.50
Centrebet = Tigers $2.52 Bulldogs $1.55
Sportsbet = Tigers $2.50 Bulldogs $1.55
TAB Sportsbet = Tigers $2.65 Bulldogs $1.50
Centrebet = Tigers $2.52 Bulldogs $1.55
Sportsbet = Tigers $2.50 Bulldogs $1.55
Verdict
This isn't the Tigers usual home ground but they certainly don't lose an advantage. To anyone that has never been to the SFS when the Tigers are playing, they certainly have a mountain of support present. Even when they are the away team. This game is sure to be a cracker. It will be played in very wet conditions due to the rain which has fallen down on Sydney in the past 24 hours. You look at the two teams together and Bulldogs definitely have players who have reached a more consistent level of play this season. They seem to be set in their structure and each player understand what is required of them. The Tigers on the other hand have missed a few players through injury and had a whole host of players either playing out of position or playing longer minutes then would be required of them (forwards only). It would be interesting to see a stat on how many players the Bulldogs have used overall this season because it would be many. If you also compare the weaknesses of both teams, the Tigers have more. The Bulldogs have their unheralded halves but Josh Reynolds has been a dynamic player this season and he is definitely not the missing link. Kris Keating on the other hand may be. At times when he is under pressure he hasn't delivered, but in saying that, he is has played well of late and is keeping Trent Hodkinson in NSW Cup. The Tigers need to overcome the problem of their wingers and will be hoping that the Bulldogs do not attack either of them. Both are very slow and are caught out of position a lot of the time in defence. They also don't have a very dynamic bench appart from Ben Murdoch-Masila. Farrah is also out so they are weakened in and around the ruck as well as more pressure falling on Marshall's shoulders.
This isn't the Tigers usual home ground but they certainly don't lose an advantage. To anyone that has never been to the SFS when the Tigers are playing, they certainly have a mountain of support present. Even when they are the away team. This game is sure to be a cracker. It will be played in very wet conditions due to the rain which has fallen down on Sydney in the past 24 hours. You look at the two teams together and Bulldogs definitely have players who have reached a more consistent level of play this season. They seem to be set in their structure and each player understand what is required of them. The Tigers on the other hand have missed a few players through injury and had a whole host of players either playing out of position or playing longer minutes then would be required of them (forwards only). It would be interesting to see a stat on how many players the Bulldogs have used overall this season because it would be many. If you also compare the weaknesses of both teams, the Tigers have more. The Bulldogs have their unheralded halves but Josh Reynolds has been a dynamic player this season and he is definitely not the missing link. Kris Keating on the other hand may be. At times when he is under pressure he hasn't delivered, but in saying that, he is has played well of late and is keeping Trent Hodkinson in NSW Cup. The Tigers need to overcome the problem of their wingers and will be hoping that the Bulldogs do not attack either of them. Both are very slow and are caught out of position a lot of the time in defence. They also don't have a very dynamic bench appart from Ben Murdoch-Masila. Farrah is also out so they are weakened in and around the ruck as well as more pressure falling on Marshall's shoulders.
Suggested Bet
Bulldogs 1-12 @ $2.90
First Try, points to prove = Sam Perrett 1st & Last Try @ $11 - He was a mid season move and now has landed at Belmore. Cast your mind back to when Krisnan Inu transferred over to the Dogs, he had a blinder and has since not looked back. Perrett was a class player to begin with so expect him to want to score at some point. Even consider 1st Try of the 2nd Half @ $11 and just to score a try @ $2.
To Cover the Line = Bulldogs -5.5 @ $1.90 - If you are confident that the Bulldogs will win but unsure of a margin to take then I suggest that this bet is for you. This means that they have to win by a converted try or more.
Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips
Bulldogs 1-12 @ $2.90
First Try, points to prove = Sam Perrett 1st & Last Try @ $11 - He was a mid season move and now has landed at Belmore. Cast your mind back to when Krisnan Inu transferred over to the Dogs, he had a blinder and has since not looked back. Perrett was a class player to begin with so expect him to want to score at some point. Even consider 1st Try of the 2nd Half @ $11 and just to score a try @ $2.
To Cover the Line = Bulldogs -5.5 @ $1.90 - If you are confident that the Bulldogs will win but unsure of a margin to take then I suggest that this bet is for you. This means that they have to win by a converted try or more.
Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips
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