After posting golden-point wins in the opening round, both St George/Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers were brought back to earth last weekend and will be keen to get back to winning ways tonight. We’ll have live commentary from the kick-off at 7.40pm AEDT.
The St George/Illawarra Dragons have been in the news all week with Beau Scott’s impending move to the Newcastle Knights instigating the usual “the sky is falling!” routine from some people within the media, while the club has also been linked to signing Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart.
It is probably not a bad thing for the Dragons though. After last weekends completely inept performance against the Bulldogs, the Dragons will be happy that the focus, at least for this week, is not all on their on field performances.
The West Tigers meanwhile are licking their wounds from a loss last week themselves. Their loss against Manly last Friday night had a lot of bad signs about it.
Their forwards were dominated all game and although the Dragons are not in the best of form, they still have a forward pack that can grind out a win when needed.
The Dragons really need to step up in this game. You get the feeling that is their record falls to one win and two losses, it is going to shatter the delicate confidence of the club.
Dragons fans are already in full panic mode. If they lose this game, we could see the club implode with self doubt.
As for the Tigers, they simply need to stand up in this game and prove they won’t be bullied by bigger, stronger forward packs.
Last weekend when they wanted too, the Sea Eagles rolled through the Tigers at will.
If that happens to the Tigers again tonight, it may be like blood in the water for other teams in the NRL.
It should be close to a sellout crowd at WIN Jubilee Stadium for what is yet another early season clash that will help line up the contenders from the pretenders.
Who makes it 2-1 after tonight? Join me, League Freak, at 7.40pm AEDT for my live blog of the game and if you’re watching, be sure to leave a comment in the space below!
The Gunning Eagle
Guest
Live forum on TGE. Tim Moltzen was terrible! He is not a halfback, he is not the best in any position, His defence is decent, but I don't think that warrants him as being a good footballer, need a lot more than that. I still think the Tigers can be a somewhat of a threat. Favourites? Absolutely not.
Maximus
Guest
The Nine network used to go off last year about close decisions but not this year and this forward pass was just let go. Gould raised it tentatively but Warren said its on the board so its OK. Its TV League with close games at a premium or maybe home town decisions. Tigers back in it at 12-4
Pete75
Guest
Somewhat. Beaten by the better team on the night...
Greg
Guest
Weren't you wrong pete75. Go the mighty Dragons! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Hoy
Roar Guru
This was the play I am talking about up top. It didn't lead to a player offside. It was deliberate by Soward.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Just quickly, I am up in QLD, so only just watching this game now, but 20 minutes in, Tigers on attack, Marshall puts the kick in, and it comes off a Saints player forward, Jamie Soward comes from offside position and deliberately bats the ball out over the sideline. I would have binned him. I think there was three tigers players there, and Jamie Soward cheating to prevent a try. Just me anyway. I can't stand that type of deliberate cynical play. It was a deliberate, intentional, illegal play to prevent Tigers from benefit. Should have been a binning I think.
Blaze
Guest
Terrible game, dragons it seemed could do no wrong, tigers penalized out of the game early, added with free high shots on playmakers.... Sure the tigers played badly, but the dragons win was decided early in the game. In the end the dragons deserved to win but they definitely had all the calls going with them. Possesion and penalty count was dictated tonight.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – Well I hope you all enjoyed tonights live blog. A great win by the Dragons. If you want more League Freak in your life, follow me on Twitter. My user name is @LeagueFreak. If you want even more, you can visit my web site at http://www.leaguefreak.com Enjoy your night and I'll see you lot here next Friday night!
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – Official man of the match is Brett Morris. Well deserved. He played well. Needs to take those deep kicks on the full though!
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – For the Tigers, wow, the Dragons showed how to beat them. You go to the right, then immediately back to the middle of the field....you will find sparse defense and make half breaks just about every time. You know when sometimes a team gets completely exposed....that happened tonight for the Tigers. Not good for their Premiership hopes.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – Great performance by the Dragons. Dragons fans really should feel good about this one. They showed they had something the Tigers just dont have at this stage. Weyman was great in this one up the middle of the field. He may be the man of the match. Hard to go past Soward though. Controlled this game so well. His kicking game was spot on. Morris also played great at fullback. If he isn't injured you should expect to see him back there again next week.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – The Tigers flat footed but throwing the ball around. Lawrence makes a half break and the Tigers make it deep into the Dragons half. They come right, and its a forward pass out wide. That is the full time siren, and the Dragons, with a fantastic win that really showed a lot of great signs for their season.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – Dragons working it out of their own danger zone here. Another offload almost turns into a break. Soward kicks deep. The Tigers look stuffed. 1 minute left.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 36 Tigers 12 – Soward converts the try. Dragons fans are happy. Crowd is 18,726.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 34 Tigers 12 – TRY DRAGONS. Right under the posts too. Only 3 minutes left in this game. This is a great performance by the Dragons.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 30 Tigers 12 – Last tackle for Dragons, a chip by Soward, its knocked back by the Dragons, Morris on to Creagh and they look to have scored here. Video ref to look at the onside......
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 30 Tigers 12 – The Dragons once again, keeping it simple. They come back to the left and almost make another break. Morris almost makes a break and throws it back. The ball goes right and meters are being made. Nightingale almost scores, so close. The Dragons cross the line with a tackle left but are held up!
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 30 Tigers 12 – 5 minutes left and Moltzen drops the ball cold. Weyman comes off to applause. The Dragons have the scrum feed in Tigers territory.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 30 Tigers 12 – Dragons playing simple football. And off load and there are meters being made now. Dragons make it to the Tigers 30 meter line. They go back to the right and side of the field. On the last Hornby kicks wide and the Tigers get the bounce. The have it on their own 20 meter line.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Dragons 30 Tigers 12 – 8 minutes left in this one as the Tigers get to the 40 meter line. They spread the ball left. Marshall steps and makes 15 more meters into Dragons territory. They go wide on the last and Lawrence kicks the ball. The Dragons have the ball 8 meters out from their own line.