Could Bulldogs Game Be a Watershed Moment?

[trentrunciman]

look, ill be honest after we lost ot the titans AGAIN, i knew it was the same old tigers this year.


BUT we beat the dogs are lower team and NORMAL tigers lose these games. I am far happier beating them than sat a melbourne because it shows we have changed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[barra]

We were favourites against a lowly but tough team that's had the wood on us recently. It was our 500th club game to celebrate.
We never seem to win those games but yesterday we did.
So while it wasn't a huge test in terms of quality opposition, and we didn't play that well, we won convincingly/ugly and so it was pleasing to see that happen. There's a glimmer of hope!

 

[Juro]

I thought it was a great effort last night, but we must remember that there were a few tries which came directly from Bulldogs errors.

1. Grant's try off Bulldogs failing to clean up the kick
2. Talau's try off Bulldogs dropped bomb
3. Nofo's try off intercept

If the Bulldogs had played better, those opportunities would not have been there. Other teams will not be so generous!

 

[TSupps05]

The part last night i mostly enjoyed was Josh Reynolds having a cracker of a game.

He and Grant are developing a really nice and threatening combination. Especially with the couple of dangerous short side raids with BJ and Nofa.

 

[Spartan117]

The Truth Is we were playing the Team coming in Last.

We lost badly to Newcastle and the Titans

Penrith and Souths will give as a better indication.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Naaah ....... way too early for any such talk.
Take this topic on in about 4-5 weeks time!

 

[BZN]

I thought it was a great effort last night, but we must remember that there were a few tries which came directly from Bulldogs errors.

1. Grant's try off Bulldogs failing to clean up the kick
2. Talau's try off Bulldogs dropped bomb
3. Nofo's try off intercept

If the Bulldogs had played better, those opportunities would not have been there. Other teams will not be so generous!

We won because our players were in the right place at the right time to put pressure on the Bulldogs players to make errors, then being in the right place to take advantage of those errors.
The Bulldogs didn't lose the game, Wests Tigers won the game.

 

[Geo]

I thought it was a great effort last night, but we must remember that there were a few tries which came directly from Bulldogs errors.

1. Grant's try off Bulldogs failing to clean up the kick
2. Talau's try off Bulldogs dropped bomb
3. Nofo's try off intercept

If the Bulldogs had played better, those opportunities would not have been there. Other teams will not be so generous!

We won because our players were in the right place at the right time to put pressure on the Bulldogs players to make errors, then being in the right place to take advantage of those errors.
The Bulldogs didn't lose the game, Wests Tigers won the game.

No we only ever win cause the other team is crap..

 

[Guest]

Consistency is the key of course - consistency in effort, get that right and we should win more than we lose. Easy to say and sounds obvious, but as we know all too well, the Tigers can look great one week and suck the next. Penrith is a massive test, they've got plenty of strike, big, fast and skillful. If we can match them, I'll be pleased.

 

[weststigers]

I think most fans on here were happy with the Tigers performance against the Bulldogs last night and, seemingly, so was Madge. Is there is a chance that this could be a watershed moment in the Tigers fortunes? There were so many positives to emerge from the game that could indicate a turnaround in attitude, chemistry and confidence;

- 80 minute effort
- commitment in defense
- controlled aggression
- direct, hard running by forwards
- developing player combinations (eg Grant/ Reynolds)
- emerging first graders (Doueihi, Talau, McIntyre)
- established players going to another level (Alouai, Nofo, Huth)
- further evidence of the bonafide star quality of Harry Grant

Put it altogether and could this be a new dawn in the Tigers' fortunes? One thing that I can see is that Madge is starting to put his stamp on the club. No nonsense, demanding and not afraid to make the tough decisions or give players a swift kick up the backside. I feel a bit sad about the demise of Benji (he's my favourite all time player) but there's no doubt that his demotion was the right decision. Having Reynolds there with his energy, effort and competitive spirit is just what we needed.

Seeing the Tigers defense smash people and the slickness of some of our attack brought a smile to my face. Yes, we dropped the ball a bit in the first half and might have paid for that against better sides but the Bulldogs are not easy beats, their forwards are strong and we've lost 12 out of 16 against them. I said to my bother, we need to put them to the sword in the second half and we did....

Is this the beginning of a new Tigers identity? I'm going to stick my neck out and say yes....What do you guys think?

The only positive I saw was that we belted a team that should have been belted.

We often lose to teams we shouldn't and it was nice that we cut them to shreds as per the expectation.

We can go on about the Bulldogs not being easy beats, but they are fielding a reserve grade team with a few good first graders in there.

The next 7 weeks defines our season because we have a tough run home:

* Rd 08 > Penrith
* Rd 09 > Souths
* Rd 10 > Brisbane
* Rd 11 > Parramatta
* Rd 12 > Warriors
* Rd 13 > Newcastle
* Rd 14 > Bulldogs

On form, we should be winning 5 of the next 7. That takes us to 18 points with 5 rounds remaining. Cut-off will be 20 or 22 this year.

If we win 4 of 7, we will struggle to get into the 8 again. The GC game was so important and will either make our season because of the rev up it gave the boys or break our season because we fall one win short of a finals spot.

**Run Home**
* Rd 15 > Roosters
* Rd 16 > Penrith
* Rd 17 > Manly
* Rd 18 > Souths
* Rd 19 > Melbourne
* Rd 20 > Parramatta

I will say that sometimes it's better to play the big teams late in the season when they are either resting players or their minds are 2 weeks ahead and not concentrating on the now.

 

[Geo]

The only 3 teams playing consistent footy are the Rorters Penrith and Parra...the rest are a mixed bag IMO

We need to stay injury free...with no BYES it's even more critical this year...Manly Melbourne Parra have suffered injury to key players ..Rorters have a C grade team they can field and still do well but it will take it's toll..

Penrith are beatable ..they had a heap of possession against Souff's early and struggled to score points then Souff's fell in a heap..

 

[Spartan117]

Run Home

Rd 15 Roosters
Rd 16 Penrith
Rd 17 Manly
Rd 18 Souths
Rd 19 Melbourne
Rd 20 Parramatta

I will say that sometimes it’s better to play the big teams late in the season when they are either resting players or their minds are 2 weeks ahead and not concentrating on the now.

Thumbs Up for the Post Mate.

That's a hard run home which is precisely what We need to know if we have the right to be involved in the finals.

Bring it on.

 

[mike]

It was the 80 minute effort that was most pleasing. Also the crucial moments eg just before half time, we didn’t leak points, in fact we scored. We went on with it in the second half and didn’t fall into the habit thinking we have this won and dropping off intensity. These are the differences between a top side and the side we have been for a while now. If this effort continues then yes the Dogs game can be viewed as a watershed moment. Too early to call yet.

 

[Harvey]

The only 3 teams playing consistent footy are the Rorters Penrith and Parra...the rest are a mixed bag IMO

We need to stay injury free...with no BYES it's even more critical this year...Manly Melbourne Parra have suffered injury to key players ..Rorters have a C grade team they can field and still do well but it will take it's toll..

Penrith are beatable ..they had a heap of possession against Souff's early and struggled to score points then Souff's fell in a heap..

Brisbane are playing consistent footy.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Yes and no.

History suggested we would lose that game. A milestone game that we were expected to win, yet up against a bogey team that normally beat us. I didn't see any of our bad habits that usually pop up in those games: passive line speed, complacency when on top, guys having a nap during attacking sets late in the game.

This week is the real test. History also says we never win three in a row. We haven't won three in a row since our early run in 2018. Then you have to go back to 2016 then 2014 for the previous instances. 4+ is even more elusive. Our last 4+ streak was in 2012...

 

[Geo]

The only 3 teams playing consistent footy are the Rorters Penrith and Parra...the rest are a mixed bag IMO

We need to stay injury free...with no BYES it's even more critical this year...Manly Melbourne Parra have suffered injury to key players ..Rorters have a C grade team they can field and still do well but it will take it's toll..

Penrith are beatable ..they had a heap of possession against Souff's early and struggled to score points then Souff's fell in a heap..

Brisbane are playing consistent footy.

To quote Obi Won..that is not the consistency your looking for..

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Not even close. We thought the club turned the corner at the start of 2018, beating heavyweights with our defence. Then it all turned to water. We need a couple seasons, not a couple weeks before we talk about whether this club has fully turned around.

 

[weststigers]

The only 3 teams playing consistent footy are the Rorters Penrith and Parra...the rest are a mixed bag IMO

We need to stay injury free...with no BYES it's even more critical this year...Manly Melbourne Parra have suffered injury to key players ..Rorters have a C grade team they can field and still do well but it will take it's toll..

Penrith are beatable ..they had a heap of possession against Souff's early and struggled to score points then Souff's fell in a heap..

Brisbane are playing consistent footy.

To quote Obi Won..that is not the consistency your looking for..

[/QUOTE]

 

[yeti]

The Penrith game will be interesting. One advantage we have over them is that they concede more "6 agains" than any other team. Should allow us to build some pressure in attack. And we have shown we can ask a lot of questions of the opposition defence with the ball in hand. We will need to - Penrith's defence is first rate.
I don't see us winning this one, but I look forward to seeing if we are at least competitive.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Yes and no.

History suggested we would lose that game. A milestone game that we were expected to win, yet up against a bogey team that normally beat us. I didn't see any of our bad habits that usually pop up in those games: passive line speed, complacency when on top, guys having a nap during attacking sets late in the game.

This week is the real test. History also says we never win three in a row. We haven't won three in a row since our early run in 2018. Then you have to go back to 2016 then 2014 for the previous instances. 4+ is even more elusive. Our last 4+ streak was in 2012...

A lot of pressure lol, glad we delivered

100th win for madge as coach

500th game

LL 50th game