The fourteenth man was well and truly in action at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday night as the Tigers sent the Cowboys home lamenting the chance to finally build some momentum into their season.
The visitors’ win against the Panthers last weekend and the glimpses of form and combinations that finally started to appear would have meant so much more if followed up with a solid win against the Tigers.
Paul Green will be disappointed with a performance that, despite the relative closeness of the contest, saw the Tigers appear more enthusiastic and energetic across the park.
It shocks me that we use such language in this day and age. With the level of professionalism in the game, how is it possible that one team looks more committed and desperate than another with so much at stake and competition points on the line?
It is the nature of athletic pursuits I guess; mental application, preparation and the immeasurable sense of team culture and mindset that all play out in the tiny moments where centimetres and seconds make the difference.
These moments are consistently won by the Tigers when they play at their spiritual home of Leichhardt Oval. The fans, players and opposition all realise the black and gold (and white since the merger) are on sacred ground and even a moderate ANZ crowd, such as the 13,000 in attendance on Thursday, has Leichhardt bursting at the seams.
Whenever a team embraces their traditional home, one can’t help but feel a little nostalgic about the game. There has been an obvious attempt by the NRL to reconnect with fans in emphasising rivalries and when built into the cauldron of a local ground, the history of the game is reignited in a new form for the modern fan.
It is a no-brainer that we would all like to watch more football that way yet sad that the commercial realities make it only fleetingly possible. Perhaps we have the balance right and that is what makes it special? Or maybe we should all head back to the suburbs more often.
For the Tigers, the extra Leichhardt-leg they grew will keep them well entrenched in the top eight and the Cowboys will hobble home with a rickety set of crutches. They will once again attempt to regroup ahead of their clash with the Rabbitohs this coming Saturday.
The Panthers did the business against the Knights in the early Friday clash. The chocolate soldiers led all of the way and despite injuries and some questions over their form, move temporarily into second place on the ladder.
The (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
I missed much of that game as I was out at ANZ anticipating the bottom-of-the-table clash between the Bulldogs and the Eels.
Irrespective of ladder position, these teams don’t do friendly. It is an historic rivalry that is at its best when both clubs are riding high but even when things look as grim as they do for both right now, there is still much at stake.
The game started with a flurry of scoring and a cricket score seemed likely after tries to Brett Morris, Clint Gutherson and Bevan French saw the Eels build a 12-8 lead. Just prior to the break, Moses Mbye slotted a penalty goal and the Bulldogs crept within two.
The most stunning feature of the first half was the appalling right side defence of the Dogs as both Parramatta tries were constructed down that alley and a third destroyed with a poor pass. The Morris boys were as solid as a rock on the left yet had little to do, as the Eels aimed their entire attack at the right edge with good success.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Sadly, both teams became clinical (some might say negative) and completions became the order of the day in the second half. Unfortunately, the contest became representative of two teams lingering at the bottom of the table, with both scared to lose and devoid of the courage to grasp the win.
A penalty goal to Moses Mbye levelled things up after 60-five minutes and the Bulldogs finally had some luck with an Adam Elliott try in the 73rd after clumsy and inept work from the Parramatta backs gifted the Bulldogs’ backrower a try.
A 78th-minute penalty goal sealed the deal for the Dogs and they will take the win with glee after such a frustrating month. Parramatta will rue their lost chances and lament their inability to capitalise on the line breaks they made throughout the game.
It wasn’t Torvill and Dean and potentially a little more Cheech and Chong, yet for the victors it was a step in the right direction. For the losers, it mires them to the bottom of the table and makes the road to the semi-finals almost impossible.
peeko
Guest
not worth it
peeko
Guest
your main assumption isnt true.
kk
Guest
Hi Gav, Thank you.
kk
Guest
Hi Con, Apologies for late reply. Visitor Robert is a paramedic . He is incredulous at the bravery and the risk the players of League are exposed to every time they handle the ball or tackle a freight train head on. Loved the continuity. We didn't make it home for the first of three but they enjoyed the next two. Left them with about an inch deep of the essential printouts of our game and websites to put in favourites, the most important being the Roar.
peeko
Guest
i reckon there was closer to 18000 at the game.
Al
Guest
Forget I said anything johnno... I just remembered why I don’t bother anymore
Johnno
Guest
Um coz that cost a foutune to rebuild subruban grounds.. And when you have two grounds that are big that's all you need. Allianz is getting renovated.. Soon you will have virtual reality and fake crowds will be able to be displayed on the TV to make it look full when no one could be there for all we care... And anyway Paramatta stadium, a suburban ground will be re-built soon... And you say a massiv different to your tV experience, well clearly not enough casual fans/TV fans care if the matches are played at ANZ/Allianz or they would stop watching on "TV".. And if you so opposed to matches played at Allianz/ANZ stop watching them then, take a stand and boycott regular season games played at ANZ/Allianz, clealry not enough fans are willing to boycott and the NRL know it and don't have to force there hand on anything eg changing there business model to suburban grounds as opposed to being a "TV game/ad sales agency..
Al
Guest
So why not invest monies into playing at suburban grounds where the atmosphere is electric and conveyed thru the tv? If it is a TV game..... I know what you mean, but watching a TV game at leichardt as opposed to an anz TV game is a massive difference from my lounge...!
Johnno
Guest
Hay i love suburban grounds to and the athmopshere a full house at one brings, but facts a fact the NRL is a business and it's totally pointless playing at suburban grounds, sport is a business only$, and crowd numbers and gate talkings mean nothing, it's about advertising and TV ratings and internet stream ratings, and ANZ makes far more money in Ad revenue for a club and the NRL despite being empty and souless... NRL is a "TV game and advertising classifieds service" as opposed to being a sport about soul and for the people, wake up, the NRL only exists to make money$ not provide fans with soul..
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Nat, The Dogs gave up plenty of penalties, the Eels just went for the try. Unfortunately the story was more - take the two because the opponent can keep giving away penalties and you won't be able to score.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I have to say I don't understand why Brookes is getting wraps for his performance on Thursday night. He was just ok. His kicking game was actually really poor. multiple kicks running dead and almost as many which didn't even make the in goal. I think he forced one drop out on the night and while he ran half a dozen times, he didn't make many yards. Foran's first half last night was epically poor. He had zero involvement and was leaving the majority of kicking to Mybe. He tried a bit in the second half but just came up with a tonne of errors. A bit injured I guess, but he hasn't been delivering.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I am not sure how you can say that when Parramatta turned down multiple penalty goal opportunities and pushed to try and score a try only to be thwarted by a lack of patience because the Dogs were allowed to keep giving away penalties - and not penalised when they should have been. The pushed pass by Gutherson in the first half after three straight penalties, and the second tackle kick by French which Jennings almost scored off were examples of this. The Eels made five line breaks - That should be enough to score 20 points, as it was for the Tigers the night before. They just didn't execute at the right times and went through a period in the second half where they, for whatever reason, didn't go hard enough.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Morning kk! I once had American friends staying over about 9 years ago and they arrived on a Wed of the first State of Origin Game. It took a bit of effort explaining the concept of State of Origin and I was momentarily insulted when Joel said, "oh, so it's like an All-Star game!". Um...I guess. They loved the hits and like most Yanks, could not believe the lack of protective gear.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Right edge is terrible. I think Montoya is ready for a spell in the Reggie’s to work on it. It’s such an obvious weakness at the moment and opposing teams will exploit it more and more...particularly faced with the rock solid Morris combo on the other side.
Gav
Guest
Best ever comment on the Roar
Albo
Guest
If only they could have more than 3 games at Leichhardt this year !
lesterlike
Guest
The NRL is genuinely at it's worst when played at Homebush. The empty seats and dour atmosphere just makes a bad match worse to watch.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow!
Nat
Roar Guru
The benefits of a good home crowd is without question and it's important that the fans show up in the good times and bad. All to often we point out the deficiencies in the losing team as opposed to the strengths in the winning one. In most cases, and moreso this year, the teams are pretty evenly matched and little things are the difference. Mahe Fonu'a was that difference on Thursday. Last night was a pretty good game and if that's the standard of bottom-of-the-table clash, we have a pretty good product. Tough forwards and fast backs who hold the ball is always entertaining. French is an excitement machine and the Morris bros are reliable as an old Landy. Not every game is an execution masterpiece but there was good ball movement and equally good defence. Acknowledging the game was decided by penalty goals will serve a greater purpose that teams will not be so willing to give up penalties within kicking range. 3 penalties = a converted try, they will work it out.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
A bit of relief with that one Johnybulldog. Still problems on the right edge. Parramatta just drilled down that side and probably overdid it to the point where it was predictable. A little more variation and they may have sealed things in the first half. The boys defended well though and a win is a win. Much better ball control in the most part as well.