Milestone matches generally produce the desired result and the Wests Tigers found the perfect way to celebrate Robbie Farah’s 300th against the Knights, on a glorious night in the Hunter.
Against the script, things started poorly for the Lebanese international and it took just four minutes for the Knights to open the scoring.
Jesse Ramien crossed almost immediately and, when Kalyn Ponga did the same just three minutes later, the home side had built an early advantage and were threatening to derail Farah’s celebrations. With both tries converted, the Knights led 12-0.
Both sides had entered the contest off the back of three straight defeats and a loss for the Tigers would death knell their season. For the Knights, a loss would most likely see them slip out of the top eight and raise serious questions around their ability to be a semi-final contender.
The early points to Newcastle were full of enthusiasm and bravado but the Tigers were in the contest for the long haul and for Robbie. That spirit was clearly evident when the black and gold fought back and Corey Thompson’s try in the 22nd minute brought them within six points.
Frankly, the first half was far from anything to write home about. Tim Glasby should have added a third try for the Knights in the 30th minute after using Benji Marshall as a human speed bump, however, he failed to ground the ball after excellent pressure in the in-goal area from David Nofoaluma.
Thompson scored his second try with four minutes remaining in the opening half and, when Marshall reached out with his right arm to score in the 39th minute, Moses Mbye’s conversion sent the Tigers to the sheds with a surprising 18-12 lead.
What followed in the second half was a to and fro affair between two sides most likely making up the numbers in 2019, yet it was a contest as willing as a game of rugby league can be.
Second half Newcastle tries to Hymel Hunt, Tautau Moga and Shaun Kenny-Dowall were matched by four pointers to Robbie Farah and Paul Momorovski for the Tigers and the teams entered the final ten minutes with the visitors holding a slender 28-26 lead.
With the game in the balance, Ponga was sent to the sin-bin for an alleged shoulder charge on a Tigers player in the potential act of scoring. There was no attempt to use the arms in the tackle and by the letter of the law, he looked guilty.
However, many will question exactly what the fullback was supposed to do in his efforts to prevent the try, aside from entering and attempting to disrupt the contest.
His dismissal left the Knights without their main weapon and toothless over the final minutes. The Tigers were good enough to grind their way to victory and secure two competition points that bring them right back into semi-final contention.
Sadly, another disappointing crowd was on hand for the prime time Friday night clash between South Sydney and St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium.
In defiance, the two teams put on a grand show. The closely fought 20-16 win for the Rabbitohs saw the Dragons snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and South Sydney maintain their run towards a top-four finish and a home final.
The logic, bookies odds and common sense suggested the Bunnies were highly likely to grasp an opportunity to confirm their premiership credentials against the floundering Dragons.
However, early on neither side was able to take the initiative and, in what became something of a lack lustre first half hour, an exchange of penalty goals was all that bothered the scoreboard attendant.
A 31st minute try to Dane Gagai was the sole four pointer in the first half and the Bunnies took a 6-2 lead into the break after the earlier penalty goals from Adam Reynolds and Gareth Widdop.
A try to Cody Walker stretched Souths’ lead early in the second half before Jason Saab stunned the home side with two tries and Gareth Widdop’s conversions brought the teams level at 14 apiece.
The impossible seemed possible for just a brief moment and after a correct offside ruling against Souths, Widdop lined up for what appeared to be the match winning penalty goal attempt.
In retrospect, the Dragons may wish they sent the ball over the sideline and denied the Bunnies field position.
As soon as Widdop did the business and converted the opportunity to send the Dragons to a 16-14 lead, the Rabbitohs were back on the attack.
When Campbell Graham scored in the corner with less than 20 seconds remaining on the clock, the latest St George Illawarra nightmare had come true.
Adam Reynolds’ conversion was just the icing on the Rabbitohs’ cake and another nail in the coffin that has become the Dragons’ season.
Now 14th and with a wooden spoon threatening, Paul McGregor’s position must be close to untenable.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I still think you overrate that Dragons roster. I doubt Simms, JDB, Hunt & Norman will be playing many more Origin matches & Widdop is off to Super League. I follow the equally disappointing Panthers, but I can tell you I would only be interested in taking McInnes off your hands for my team , and I wouldn't be interested in any others that Clubs apparently "drool" over. Vaughan & Frizell are handy Origin class players , but I'm happy enough with Fisher-Harris, Tamau, & Kikau before those two. They aren't the reason we have been battling this year .
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes I agree but, the Bunnies are missing something, their foward pack has always been there, maybe with AJ at FB (we do have some great new signings in Gebbie who is a PNG rep and Masters for FB in 2020 and in the future, also Goodwin is coming back) but with Roberts in the centre accompanying Burns and Gagai and Graham things will improve overall in our attack, as things were not that ‘crash hot’ before and we were lacking on the edges to compete with the top sides. Overall, I reckon that Bennett will combine all that and polish our overall performance in that respect. The Bunnies need to have a harder go and be dominant within their forwards and their backs finishing the job, otherwise, we have no chance of beating the Storm, Roosters in the finals.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Steve, you do not know really, he may have but regardless of your opinion and my opinion I reckon common sense says you bring him on a lot earlier than Mc Gregor did. I sort of agree with your assessment of the game except I thought that th redeeming factor for the dragons was their gritty defence, their attack is awful. As for the Bunnies well Bennett's simple game plan always relies on having a big robust forward pack to make it work so so Sam & George does make a difference. I would like to see how Bennett would coach a team like Wests Tigers that sadly is lacking in the forward department and cannot afford to buy any
steveng
Roar Rookie
Firstly, Dufty wouldn’t have made a difference, the Dragons were a complete and utter rabble the whole game, not that the Bunnies were any better also, I was very disappointed in the Bunnies performance last night as they were very lucky to win this game, considering the total dominance that they had throughout this game! The Dragons just don’t look like an organised and well lead team, they rely on certain players to do things individually e.g. Hunt, Widdop, Norman and McInnes. Hunt was an absolute shocker the whole game and it was only in patches that he did anything! If it wasn’t for McInnes’s charge down and Widdop’s goal kicking the Dragons wouldn’t have had a chance and/or they wouldn’t have come close, it would have been at best 24 Bunnies 16 Dragons! Don’t forget that the Bunnies scored 4 tries to 2 and if Reno would have converted all of his kicks, like Widdop did, then, it would have been a NO contest also! The Bunnies had SamB, GeorgeB, Liam Knight and Alex Johnston out, yes Adam Doueihi did some great things in last nights game but, he also made allot of fundamental mistakes at FB and in certain parts of the Bunnies game, which cost the Bunnies dearley. For me, the Dragons have had too many key players out and not performing, their overall combinations are a rabble as is proven in their performances in the last 12 rounds but, this game could be their turnaround as mary said lol lets see?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
How long he was binned was totally irrelevant..it’s already been assessed as ‘ no case to answer for’..so belated common sense..wish they’d share it around..
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Coaching. Coaching. Coaching. Nothing wrong with the roster. Doesn't rest key forwards during Origin, they play busted and team declines. Coach rests key player a week after Origin is over for a crucial match, coaches replaces big body with go-forward with 2Meter+ rookie for a must win game and doesn't train him up or practise the high ball catches. Saab missed 3 critical high ball catches that turned the game, two missed ties and one led to the match winner. What he scored could have been done by Ravalara. Coach instructs a late penalty shot, which I actually have no problem with, but they don't plan and prepare for the short kick that everybody knew was coming?? A NRL team that lacks the confidence in defending for 1 minute?? JUST 1 MINUTE!?!?! Who can't defend 40m for a minute?? This team is absolutely shot and it falls 100% on the coach.
Reggie13
Roar Rookie
You blame the recruitment manager? Simms, JDB, Vaughan, Frizell, Hunt, Norman all play origin. Does any other team have six origin games players? Add McInnes and Widdop to that list and you have eight quality players that other teams would drool over. I think the coach has a lot to answer for. He isn’t getting the best out of his roster, or even close to it.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Initially the damage was done by former Dragons CEO Peter Doust who white-anted the Dragons organisation in terms of recruitment and retention and in assigning Paul McGregor as head coach and backing him to continue in that role while allowing Jason Demetriou to exit the joint venture and head to Brisbane. After Doust stepped down as Dragons CEO at the end of 2018 his role was taken over by former Dragons player Brian Johnston (CEO) with Andrew Gordon (Dragons Chairman/WIN Executive Chair) at the top of the totem pole. As far as I can tell the Dragons don't have a Manager of Football Operations or Head of Game, Strategy and Development like Shane Richardson at Souths so the head coach effectively liases directly with the board who are completely removed from the realities on the ground and the day to day concerns. Also, the Dragons appear to be very much "the old boys club" establishment of the 1970's with ex-players as head coach (McGregor), CEO (Johnston) and Craig Young (Football Club Director). This "jobs for the boys" mentality is holding the Dragons back IMO as they are not getting the best professionals into crucial roles that best serve the Dragons going forward. Thoughts Dragons fans? DPS, Scott, Paul and pedro the saint?
Davico
Roar Pro
Add Fifita to the benchmark! Not the biggest fan of the bloke but wow! On another note almost time to head to head to Henson for the Beer, Footy, Food Festival!! #weare8972
souvalis
Roar Rookie
True, but as the coach pointed out in the presser...the defence...goodness, Robbie and Benji went thru the middle of the ruck..for the second week in a row Mann was doing little more than throwing an arm out.. Ese’ese needed to be stronger on the line and Gavet is a non contributer..they just shouldn’t be sifting the wheat from the chaff at Round 20..
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
...you're a youngster Con! I remember that 'kick' (air swing) vividly and three words popped into my mind and were then vocalised.....WT*! haha...goodness, I also lost money on that match to a Qld mate...(damned Queenslanders)! :)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Agree that the Dragons are unlikely to fork out two years worth of salary to off-load him yet his position is still untenable. Nobody could defend his position at this point, surely?
Emcie
Roar Guru
It's a bit funny that the two most "ridiculous" and controversial rulings of the year have been a grade 1 charge carrying 1 week and a sin binning that lasted all of 30 seconds. As far as what Ponga was supposed to do, not making contact with a players head off the ball is a good start. What a player was attempting to do has never been a defence. If he doesn't make contact with the head knights get the ball, the issue wasn't what he was trying to do, it's what happened when he was trying to do it. I wouldn't call it a shoulder charge but I'm not sure what terminology the ref's are supposed to use for hitting a guys head with your shoulder.
jamesb
Roar Guru
I don't know if all of the players were busting a gut. Dragons looked passive in attack and defence. There was no line speed in defence, and the attack lacked variety. How the Rabbits didn't win by 30, I will never know. But they are winning without playing at their best. As for Dufty coming on in the last five minutes, that was a waste. I think McGregor forgot that Dufty was on the bench.
Albo
Roar Rookie
And Pearce has done very little in the past 6 weeks. Seems the season is just too long for some of these players.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I still think Noel Cleal’s dropout in the 1984 State of Origin match was worse than Hunt’s. I was only 10 at the time but still remember it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZf__ryyTA
Jennzex
Guest
The NRL is officially a sinbinathon. “ But sir he pushed me “ “ your off!”
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think it is the recruitment manager who should go before the coach. This roster is highly overrated and they were never competing in that match against a way out of form Souths team, who should have buried the Dragons by halftime. But for McInnes' massive performance in defence and charge down regather, the Dragons would not have been in it . I had tipped them to win this week with a new player resolve against an out of form Bunnies side, but then I thought their lead with a minute to go would have been the most undeserved win I had ever seen. Luckily for Souths the Dragons still couldn't hold on for a minute. Apart from McInnes, Frizell & Vaughan , I would clear out the rest of them. Norman was artrocious at fullback, the two wingers gave them no yardage off their line ( young Saab has potential but Lomax continues to fail), the two centres never threatened but Aitken at least tried last night. Widdop tried but was rusty and non threatening and will be gone before his form returns. Hunt needs a psychologist to find his confidence to play footy. The Simms bothers should be banished for continual lack of effort, and despite his brave defensive efforts poor James Graham scares nobody anymore even with his temper, and should hang up his boots now or take the plane back to Super League with Widdop.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
James, not a Dragons supporter but I saw a bunch of blokes last night busting a gut. Combinations put back together and I think in the right place for a change but to leave Dufty on the bench until the 76th minute when the team was obviously spent was inexcusable in my book. If I were the CEO I would have had Mc Gregor in my office this morning tearing strips off him, but you can bet it will not happen and that is part of the problem a big part actually
Jennzex
Guest
If that’s the case , the board needs to also get the axe .