After a disastrous first up performance against the Newcastle Knights to begin their 2013 campaign, the Wests Tigers have rebounded with wins over the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels.
But how much can you really take out of these first three games?
The Knights had a glut of possession in round one and rightfully put the Tigers to the sword.
In rounds two and three, their opposition simply did not show up. But you can only play what is in front of you and to Wests’ credit, they took the competition points on both occasions.
Thursday night the Tigers head up the F3 Freeway for a clash with rivals, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. If the Tigers want to know where they really sit so far in 2013, a clash with Manly is the perfect yardstick.
Manly have always been the Tigers’ yardstick. Through good times and bad, Wests usually know how well they are travelling after facing the Eagles.
Tigers’ fans have enjoyed a pretty entertaining couple of weeks but the aggression and brutality that Manly plays with could very easily bring Benji Marshall and company crashing back to earth.
A golden-point victory in round one last season against the Cronulla Sharks had the Tigers roaring. The following week the Eagles beat them 22-18 in a gruelling encounter. This was the beginning of a five match losing streak that would eventually see the Tigers miss the playoffs.
In 2011, Manly were sitting pretty in second place heading into their round 21 clash with the seventh placed Tigers who were fighting to stay afloat heading towards the finals.
Wests were looking for their third straight win but knew a stern test lay ahead of them against the eventual premiers.
The Tigers won that night by a mere two points. But it was almost like they had to prove themselves against the Sea Eagles who thrive on the contest.
This was the third victory of a nine match win streak that took the Tigers all the way to the second week of the playoffs.
A win is a win and the Tigers will be content with victories against Parramatta and Penrith over the passed two weeks.
But if Wests want to beat Manly on Thursday night, they need 17 stars, not just Marshall and Robbie Farah.
Farah and Marshall are improving each week. Farah leads the NRL in tackles, try assists and line break assists while Marshall leads the competition in points.
The players themselves know that Thursday is a true litmus test. Whether Marshall and Farah shine is elementary.
The game will be won and lost in the middle. If Aaron Woods, destined for State of Origin this year, can have another big performance, Wests are a hope. When the young prop leads the rest follow.
It’s only early, but the signs have been good over the passed two weeks. But a clash with Manly puts everything in perspective.
Win or lose Thursday night, we will know exactly where the Tigers sit after going to battle with the Sea Eagles.
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