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Benji Marshall of the Wests Tigers (centre) in action during their NRL Round 14 match against the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium in Sydney, Monday, June 15, 2009. The Wests Tigers won the match 23-6. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
It’s not unusual to start a Monday looking forward to Friday, but with the Wests Tigers Vs Parramatta Eels showdown set for the Friday night at the SFS, the time can’t pass quickly enough. It’s an intriguing match.
Both are the form teams of the competition, yet both are still fighting for survival. And what is most pleasing for the outsider is that they both play a great brand of expansive football.
Just being able to watch Benji Marshall or Jaryd Hayne is normally enough – a head to head battle makes it a real treat.
Incredibly, both teams had a period this season when they were probably a better shout for the wooden spoon than they were the title. But it is the latter which has their fans working themselves into a state of excitement.
And while it’s a game that will give a huge boost to the winner’s finals chances, it should also be a match which focuses the media and fans on the football.
David Gallop must be praying for a quiet week off the field so that the focus can be on these crowd pleasing teams, which will hopefully draw a big turn-out at the best ground to watch rugby league at in Sydney.
It’s a fixture that will bring a dose of finals fever earlier than usual and makes me wonder how much hype could be created if the Bulldogs played the Dragons again before the finals.
The eccentricities of the system sees the Bulldogs and Dragons play only once during the regular season this year, and given their history, the positions on the table and how the last match ended means a league fan can’t help but feel cheated they may only get to see the clash if they make the Grand Final.
I spoke a few weeks ago about the pleasures of being a league fan in Sydney at the moment. And watching this weekend footy only reinforced that feeling.
However, Dragons and Bulldogs fans (and old Steelers fans, too, for that matter. It is a joint venture, after all) who for so long have felt a Grand Final berth was a certainty must be nervously watching the armies in blue and gold and black and orange making their moves.
Of course, the draw has set this up beautifully, with the final round seeing the Dragons host the Eels and the Tigers entertaining the Bulldogs (at a ground the Bulldogs also call home).
Bring it on. All of it.
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