NRL Preliminary Final, 2005 - St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers

[voice_of_reason]

How refreshing to see a game with no wrestle, no late hits on kickers and a referee willing to make decisions and not blow the pea out of the whistle. Oh, and a Tiger's win of course.

 

[BZN]

Thanks @Tweed_Tiger for putting this game on here. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it till now [I was on holiday at the time] and what a pleasure it was.

Wests Tigers were a champion team playing and beating a team of champions.

I feel the ball bounced our way in general play and we were on the receiving end of a couple of bad calls from referee Tim Mander.

For all the Wests Magpies fans who are still p'd off re being robbed by the referee in the 1963 G.F. V St. George, maybe Tim Mander decided before the 2005 Major Semi-Final game started "I will not let St. George win the game" as a square up for Darcy Lawler reportedly being overheard by Noel Kelly saying before the 1963 game started "I will not let Wests win the game" and he didn't.

What an exciting fast flowing game from Us, with none of the wrestling that goes on today.

That team was obviously a close-knit bunch as they really worked for each other, and obviously received great coaching from Tim Sheens.

Such a bloomin pity the wheels have mostly fallen off since then.

 

[WeHaveCheeKam]

It’s really been forgotten how good Halatau was during the backend of 05, and in the finals in particular. His combination out of dummy half with Farah, one after the other was lethal. This was probably his greatest ever game. The dude could have run through a brick wall during this period.

His greatest game ever. Never had another game like it.

 

[WeHaveCheeKam]

The two semis vs St George, and to a much lesser extent Brisbane were the two best semis. I didn't feel we were ever going to lose the grand final. This one was in the air. St George were a great side and everything about that night was worth of a grand final.