Party Like Its 2005: How Tims Tigers Stunned the NRL world

Betterdays22 said:
www.nrl.com

Party like it's 2005: How Tim's Tigers stunned the world

With Wests Tigers celebrating their maiden premiership by donning 2005 heritage jerseys this Sunday against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval, NRL.com revisits the remarkable story of the game’s most unlikely champions.
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"The bond we formed in those four walls was unbelievable"

I know this gets thrown out by just about every team, but it was really noticeable with that 05 team. There was talent, but they were by no means the strongest roster, there was clearly an intangible connection between the players on and off the field. I wonder how much that has guided some of Benji's decision making with this team?
 
GNR4LIFE said:
No club, before or since, has come from the clouds to win a premiership like that. And I don’t think they ever will again. That was the definition of lightning in a bottle.
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The football they were playing at the time has rarely been replicated by anyone (subsequent Tigers teams included). Stars aligned and it was beautiful
 
They all seemed to have a connection in both attack and defence, they were not a great first contact defensive side, however they were always backing each other up and always bodies in motion in both defence and attack...rarely would you see them flat footed.
 
TheEnz said:
They all seemed to have a connection in both attack and defence, they were not a great first contact defensive side, however they were always backing each other up and always bodies in motion in both defence and attack...rarely would you see them flat footed.
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Perhaps the most entertaining brand of footy in the NRL era. A mix of individual and team brilliance and a never die wondering approach. That was the real Sheenius on display.
 
TheEnz said:
They all seemed to have a connection in both attack and defence, they were not a great first contact defensive side, however they were always backing each other up and always bodies in motion in both defence and attack...rarely would you see them flat footed.
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I should also add that nothing shits me more than the rubbish decoy runs that props and 2nd rowers do these days in the attacking 20, you may as well not burn the energy. The 2005 Tigers made every decoy run look believable.
 
TheEnz said:
I should also add that nothing shits me more than the rubbish decoy runs that props and 2nd rowers do these days in the attacking 20, you may as well not burn the energy. The 2005 Tigers made every decoy run look believable.
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And the only no look pass...came from Benji's magic.. ;-) Considering how structured football was, the moment will remain in history of a victory for instinct over structure.
 
The spine get all the credit for that win, but the real MVP in the final series was Dene Halatau. The try from dummy half in the prelim, he was running so hard, he could have run through a brick wall.
 
Here is a good summary of the factors that created the ‘lightning in a bottle’ (credit ChatGPT)

Tactics Behind the Wests Tigers’ 2005 Premiership Win

The Wests Tigers’ 2005 NRL premiership win is remembered as one of the most tactically innovative campaigns of the modern era. They didn’t rely on a powerhouse pack but instead built their game plan around speed, skill, and unpredictability.

1. Attack Built on Speed and Creativity
  • The Tigers pioneered what became known as “ad-lib” football. Instead of rigid structures, they encouraged players to read the game in real time.
  • Playmakers like Benji Marshall, Scott Prince, and Robbie Farah thrived in this freedom, using fast ball movement, step plays, and unpredictable passing (e.g. Marshall’s famous flick pass in the grand final).
2. A Mobile Forward Pack and the Surrender Tactic
  • The Tigers’ forwards weren’t the biggest, but they were mobile and skilful with the ball. They relied on offloads and quick rucks instead of brute force.
  • A crucial tactic was their habit of going straight to ground (on belly or knees) in contact, which made it difficult for defenders to dominate them. This created rapid play-the-balls and gave their playmakers extra time and space.
  • This tactic was so effective that it directly influenced the NRL to crack down on what became known as the “surrender tackle” rule in 2006. Under the new interpretation, if a ball-carrier voluntarily surrendered, referees allowed defenders more time to complete the tackle, slowing the ruck.
  • This change was widely acknowledged as a response to how the Tigers exploited the rulebook in 2005.

3. Dummy-Half Running and Ruck Speed
  • Robbie Farah’s darts from dummy-half constantly unsettled defences. By taking advantage of fast play-the-balls, he created momentum and drew markers out of position.
  • The Tigers essentially used the ruck as their weapon — fast play-the-balls were their “go-forward” in place of traditional power running
4. Disciplined Defence and Counter-Attack
  • While their attack looked unstructured, their defence was organised. They used compressed lines to handle bigger packs and trusted cover defence to shut down the edges.
  • Importantly, they turned defence into attack quickly — often scoring long-range counter-attack tries when opposition structures broke dow
5. Short Kicking Game
  • Scott Prince’s kicking game was a key tactical weapon. He consistently forced repeat sets, built pressure, and complemented the Tigers’ expansive style by pinning teams in their own end.
6. Youthful Energy and Culture
  • Tim Sheens instilled a philosophy of “back yourselves”, giving young players the confidence to try things.
  • The squad’s fitness, speed, and fearlessness allowed them to keep intensity high late in games, where their opponents’ bigger forwards fatigued
 
Mccarry said:
The Tigers pioneered what became known as “ad-lib” football. Instead of rigid structures, they encouraged players to read the game in real time.
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I'm surprised more teams don't play this style. It allows you to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves which you wouldn't have taken if you stuck to a structure.

I keep on carrying on about poker but there are similarities. You don't want to play a fixed playing strategy, you want to adapt to your opponents and take advantage of their weaknesses.
 
upthetigers said:
I'm surprised more teams don't play this style. It allows you to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves which you wouldn't have taken if you stuck to a structure.

I keep on carrying on about poker but there are similarities. You don't want to play a fixed playing strategy, you want to adapt to your opponents and take advantage of their weaknesses.
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The NRL changed the interpretation of the rules to allow wrestle to dominate the game.
 
Wish I knew about rugby league back then so I could have watched it happen in real time. Only started following in 2009 and supported the Tigers cause of Benji. If he gets us into the top 8 next year they should honestly make him an immortal on the spot because that would be witchcraft.
 
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