Expert
The Wests Tigers will be out to continue their hot run of form and keep finals hopes alive when they play the struggling Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 20 at Homebush. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:55pm (AEST).
Sitting just four points out of the top eight in ninth spot, the Tigers will still be hoping against hope they might be able to fight their way into the finals over the final six rounds of the season.
They have shown plenty of positive signs to be well above expectations this season, but the best of those may well be the last fortnight.
After four straight losses, their top eight hopes appeared dashed, but they have since beaten two top four sides in the St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs, breaking a nine-game winning streak of the latter last week.
In no small part have the victories had to do with the return of Robbie Farah and form of Benji Marshall, with the two veterans guiding the team around the park on the back of a forward pack who have been at the top of their game.
The victory over South Sydney, where they dominated and let in just a single tries proves exactly where they are at, with the club having a relatively easy run home from here on out.
If they can win five or even six of their remaining games to the end of the season, there is every chance they will slide past the Warriors into the finals.
This game is a somewhat dangerous one though. They go in as heavy favourites, but after being right up for the last fortnight against the best the competition have to offer, they could be well ever so slightly off the boil this time around.
The Bulldogs are there for the taking though. They have been nothing short of woeful in 2018. Through no fault of the players, the club is in turmoil and form has dropped off the cliff.
It reached a new low last week when they lost to the also struggling Parramatta Eels, slumping the blue and whites to their seventh loss in the last eight games.
It’s been a rough season for the men from Belmore, although debutant Lachlan Lewis has produced some good signs. If he can combine with Jeremy Marshall-King and the forward pack hold their own then there is a chance they could finish the season with a few wins.
Based on what has been dished up though, it’ll be a stretch.
Prediction
The Tigers are in form, desperate and should win. Even if there is a slight drop off in intensity from the last fortnight, they will cruise over the top during the second half.
Tigers by 14.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 20 clash from 7:55pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.