It was last playing second last on a chilly August night at Parramatta Stadium. Neither the Eels or the Tigers are going to figure in September and will only contribute a handful of players to the Rugby League World Cup.
One club has no depth, its Under-20s team is 13th on the ladder and its NSW Cup feeder team is 10th out of 14.
The other club just let go of one of the most marketable players in the game.
In terms of the 2013 season, this game ranked lower than a dead rubber, but in the grand scheme of things, it reveals some startling truths about rugby league.
Leichhardt, Campbelltown and Parramatta lie scattered across the code’s heartland in Western Sydney; the glory, folklore, legends and history of each club is long and storied.
But both are doing it tough at the moment, and that’s troubling for the future of the game.
With the expansion of AFL into the area (it’s a strange irony just a week before the Eels-Tigers game, the GWS Giants claimed their first win of the season), the persistent spread of football and a growing concern over the physical (see: violent) nature of the sport, it’s no good to see these two proud clubs floundering at the foot of the table.
For rugby league to remain strong, it’s essential for the heartland clubs to be faring well.
Since Queensland’s State of Origin reign began, there’s only been one all-Sydney grand final (Dragons-Roosters in 2010). Compare that to the three New South Wales derbies (Knights-Eels in 2001, Panthers-Roosters in 2003 and Bulldogs-Roosters in 2004) played in the seven years leading up to Queensland’s dominance, which began in 2006.
Two of the four other finals in the seven years prior to Queensland’s reign were also won by Sydney sides – the Roosters in 2002 and the Tigers in 2005.
There’s surely a trend here.
Some of the play was pretty poor, to say the least, as the Eels snapped a 10 match losing streak with a 26-22 win over the hapless Tigers.
Defence often went missing, but in a crazy game in which the lead changed hands seven times, there were glimpses of the magic each side can produce too.
All tries were scored by outside backs, ensuring a high level of entertainment, even if it meant a tough old night for the kickers – who did remarkably well considering.
A healthy crowd turned out for the dead-rubber match and both sides obliged with an entertaining match that went down to the wire.
Benji Marshall’s off season continued, but Jarryd Hayne was back taking the line on and involved in a lot of the Eels’ attack.
How things might have been different if the Hayne Plane was in flight during Origin.
More exciting for these sides and for rugby league in the west was the amount of young talent on the field – although you’d imagine the Tigers will have more cause for confidence.
Their back three of James Tedesco, Marika Koroibete and David Nofoaluma have done some great things this season.
They say Koroibete is faster than Akuila Uate in his prime and the Tigers winger scored twice, while Nofoaluma can dine out on his miracle try against Manly the other week for years.
Throw Curtis Sironen in the mix with some of the young halves coming through the Tigers ranks, and you’ve got the foundation for a half decent football club.
Things are more ominous at Parramatta, but with Ricky Stuart shaking things up and starting to blood some youngsters towards the back end of the season, they too can begin thinking about the future.
New South Wales fans will be hoping the next batch of State of Origin winners are in there somewhere too.
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