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Tigers legend Paul Sironen draws a line in the sand
Nick Walshaw
From: The Daily Telegraph
May 28, 2011 12:00AM
BALMAIN legend Paul Sironen says every team has a game that defines their season - and his beloved Tigers have reached theirs.
One of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold, Sironen is urging Wests Tigers to take a "ruthless" approach into tomorrow's Sydney blockbuster with defending premiers St George Illawarra at Kogarah's WIN Jubilee Oval.
The Dragons, after eight consecutive wins, will set a new club record should they beat their rivals at home in the round-12 encounter.
"The time has come for a few of our blokes to put their hand up - to be ruthless," Sironen told The Daily Telegraph last night.
"We're not putting teams away at the moment. Opposing sides know that, whenever they play us, they'll always be in the game until the very end because we just can't seem to finish them off.
"Every team has a defining game in their season and this one's ours, no doubt. We need to adopt that same tough, no-nonsense attitude the Dragons already have."
Overwhelming favourites for the 2011 premiership, St George Illawarra have not dropped a game since their shock loss to Cronulla and, incredibly, are now looking to rewrite history against the same club that ended their last run of eight consecutive wins in the 2005 preliminary final.
While NSW Origin utility Dean Young (knee) was yesterday ruled out of the match, seven other Dragons backing up from Wednesday's interstate game including five-eighth Jamie Soward and centre Mark Gasnier are expected to play.
"And I think they'll come straight back without skipping a beat," Sironen said. "For guys like Gasnier, Ben Creagh, Jamie Soward, having been beat by Queensland earlier in the week won't be a problem at all.
"If anything, I think they'll be bouncing. Just look at they way they continued playing during the City-Country period. I guarantee they won't be suffering an Origin hangover on Sunday afternoon."
While the Dragons are coming off a bye, the Tigers will be desperate to improve after playing so poorly in beating Penrith 20-18 last weekend. Coach Tim Sheens revealed afterwards his players didn't even sing the club song.
In a roller-coaster season, they are yet to come anywhere near the form that saw them almost beat the Dragons in the 2010 grand final qualifier.
Asked if he could see hooker Robbie Farah earning a recall to the Blues pack later in this current series, Sironen added: "You'd really have to ask Ricky Stuart or Bob Fulton that one.
"Obviously, Robbie and Chris Heighington, they're two terrific players but the form over the team over the past couple of weeks has cost them. I'd love to see both of those guys pushing on the door of Origin selection but for that to happen the team needs to start winning games and winning them in a convincing fashion."
Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway was yesterday ruled out of tomorrow's clash against St George Illawarra.
He suffered concussion in the win over Penrith last Saturday night and has not fully recovered.
Nick Walshaw
From: The Daily Telegraph
May 28, 2011 12:00AM
BALMAIN legend Paul Sironen says every team has a game that defines their season - and his beloved Tigers have reached theirs.
One of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold, Sironen is urging Wests Tigers to take a "ruthless" approach into tomorrow's Sydney blockbuster with defending premiers St George Illawarra at Kogarah's WIN Jubilee Oval.
The Dragons, after eight consecutive wins, will set a new club record should they beat their rivals at home in the round-12 encounter.
"The time has come for a few of our blokes to put their hand up - to be ruthless," Sironen told The Daily Telegraph last night.
"We're not putting teams away at the moment. Opposing sides know that, whenever they play us, they'll always be in the game until the very end because we just can't seem to finish them off.
"Every team has a defining game in their season and this one's ours, no doubt. We need to adopt that same tough, no-nonsense attitude the Dragons already have."
Overwhelming favourites for the 2011 premiership, St George Illawarra have not dropped a game since their shock loss to Cronulla and, incredibly, are now looking to rewrite history against the same club that ended their last run of eight consecutive wins in the 2005 preliminary final.
While NSW Origin utility Dean Young (knee) was yesterday ruled out of the match, seven other Dragons backing up from Wednesday's interstate game including five-eighth Jamie Soward and centre Mark Gasnier are expected to play.
"And I think they'll come straight back without skipping a beat," Sironen said. "For guys like Gasnier, Ben Creagh, Jamie Soward, having been beat by Queensland earlier in the week won't be a problem at all.
"If anything, I think they'll be bouncing. Just look at they way they continued playing during the City-Country period. I guarantee they won't be suffering an Origin hangover on Sunday afternoon."
While the Dragons are coming off a bye, the Tigers will be desperate to improve after playing so poorly in beating Penrith 20-18 last weekend. Coach Tim Sheens revealed afterwards his players didn't even sing the club song.
In a roller-coaster season, they are yet to come anywhere near the form that saw them almost beat the Dragons in the 2010 grand final qualifier.
Asked if he could see hooker Robbie Farah earning a recall to the Blues pack later in this current series, Sironen added: "You'd really have to ask Ricky Stuart or Bob Fulton that one.
"Obviously, Robbie and Chris Heighington, they're two terrific players but the form over the team over the past couple of weeks has cost them. I'd love to see both of those guys pushing on the door of Origin selection but for that to happen the team needs to start winning games and winning them in a convincing fashion."
Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway was yesterday ruled out of tomorrow's clash against St George Illawarra.
He suffered concussion in the win over Penrith last Saturday night and has not fully recovered.
