Angry Wests Tigers fans have staged a protest on the Brookvale Oval hill as the joint-venture slumped to a second straight wooden spoon with a 54-12 flogging from Manly.
In a fitting end to a sorry season, the Tigers were completely outplayed, letting in a long-range try in the first minute and never getting a foothold in the contest.
Haumole Olakau’atu starred for Manly, scoring one try and having a hand in three others, while winger Jason Saab and stand-in fullback Tolu Koula bagged doubles.
A group of around 40 Tigers fans chanted for chief executive Justin Pascoe’s exit on the seven-minute mark, handing out flyers labelled “end the Pascoe fiasco”.
Multiple banners calling for the CEO’s exit were also hoisted on the famous hill, before security forced them to be taken down at halftime claiming the venue had deemed them “offensive”.
Club bosses have long maintained the joint-venture is on an upward trajectory off the field, while the pathways program is in good shape with three Australia schoolboys players and a trio of 18-year-olds taking to the field on Friday night.
But after 12 straight seasons out of the finals, fans have made clear in recent weeks they believe enough is enough.
Friday night’s capitulation marked a sad end to Tim Sheens’ 40-year span as a first-grade coach, with the veteran mentor still officially in charge alongside Benji Marshall.
The Tigers were pulled apart at will on their left edge, with Olakau’atu having a field day and putting Koula over in the first minute.
The Manly second-rower ended the night with eight tackle busts, while also playing a part in a Saab four-pointer when he took a ball at ankle height and passed to his winger.
Koula’s performance will also have pleased the Sea Eagles, showing plenty of speed at fullback on the day before his 21st birthday, busting 17 tackles and proving he can be a capable back-up to Tom Trbojevic.
So easy did it get for the Sea Eagles, 200-game milestone man Jake Trbojevic and Gordon Chan Kum Tong were both handed tries with passes over the line.
The Tigers finished with 61 missed tackles as Manly broke the line 16 times and even left some points on the field in the first half.
The Sea Eagles’ season ends as a case of ‘what might have been’, after Tom Trbojevic’s pectoral tear headlined a raft of mid-season injuries that threw Manly off track.
For the Tigers, the 2023 campaign has been simply another disappointment.
Their four wins is no improvement on last year, they have conceded almost as many points (675) and collected a second straight wooden spoon.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
It’s always an option to have him roaming up front like state of origin and the likes of Koula and Garrick and Saab at the back. Koula is a fullback playing centre but as a fullback he averages 300 + metres a game tries try assists just as potent only faster. It’s a welcome headache to have considering Turbo is arguably the best fullback in the game , lol
Luke S
Roar Rookie
Truth is a defence in defamation matters. Exhibit A - 1 wooden spoon. Exhibit B - another matching wooden spoon.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Will Turbo end up playing in the centres?
The Spectator
Roar Guru
Turbo Koula and Garrick all fit next yr brings a welcome head ache for the back line.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
While Manly didn't have a great season overall we showed that we can play well and win games without Turbo , even with a lot of other players out as well. I've never thought the depth at the club was poor and I believe the last month validates my view. One thing that has clearly changed this season is the crowd support at Brookie, it's been outstanding and will give the players a spring in their step leading into next season.
Tony
Roar Guru
They probably need a sombrero rather than a fedora
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
"isn’t the modus operandi of the chairman to threaten defamation anytime there is criticism?" He's a lawyer - what other sort of behaviour would you expect ?
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
" security forced them to be taken down at halftime claiming the venue had deemed them “offensive”." Can anyone tell me: 1 What did the banners actually say ? 2 Who at the venue deemed them to be "offensive" ? 3 And "offensive" to whom - Hagi and Pasc - or to the NRL bosses who want to preserve the illusion that everything is as good as it could possibly be in the greatest game of all ?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
They may be a protected species, but if the fans jump up and down enough, and make their displeasure known – politely – at the major home/owner clubs, something is bound to happen. People on sporting club boards are not so protected and have influence.
Luke S
Roar Rookie
What about Lee Hagipantelis who describes him and Pascoe as ‘protected species’ on a previous Fox Sports interview? Lee just needs to go to advanced hair studio to cover up his and Pascoe’s ineptness at running an NRL footbal team. Or maybe the Tigers just need to adopt the fedora as their team headgear?
mushi
Roar Guru
Brave fans, isn't the modus operandi of the chairman to threaten defamation anytime there is criticism?