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Tigers roaring to keep winning streak
August 8, 2009 - 3:50PM
Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah stresses there is no room for complacency heading into Sunday's clash with a Roosters outfit determined to be the NRL's party poopers.
Four straight wins have lifted the surging Tigers to within two points of the top eight.
If they can win their upcoming matches against the struggling Roosters and Sharks, it would put the Tigers in prime position to end their three-year absence from the finals.
But Farah emphasised the Roosters' upset win over Newcastle last week meant the Tigers couldn't afford to drop their guard for Sunday's Sydney Football Stadium encounter.
"There's no teams you can be complacent against," hooker Farah said.
"The Roosters came out last week against Newcastle and I don't know if Newcastle were complacent or not and thinking they were going to win and the Roosters blew them off the park.
"There's five weeks left and a loss this week and everyone will be talking about us missing the eight."
Like many others at the club this week, Farah was keen to downplay any similarities between the Tigers' current surge and their late season charge to the premiership four years ago.
For their part, the Roosters - who occupy bottom spot on for and against from the Sharks - are eager to build on last week's victory.
Their run home gives them the chance to continue upsetting a number of finals aspirants.
Following Sunday's fixture, the Roosters play a cluster of other current top eight teams in Manly, the Bulldogs, Melbourne and the Cowboys.
"The last five games, we want to be a thorn in the side of the teams we are playing against," Roosters skipper Craig Fitzgibbon said.
Departing Roosters coach Brad Fittler said if his team scored a few wins at the end of the year and spoilt "a few teams' parties and momentum", it could still be a positive season for his club.
Fittler pulled off one of the selection shocks of the current campaign, choosing former Test fullback Anthony Minichello at five-eighth for Sunday's clash.
Minichello said he wouldn't be playing a tradition pivot's role and would switch between centre and five-eighth and line up as an extra fullback in attack.
The Tigers will have a near full-strength line-up to choose from, with forwards Keith Galloway and Chris Heighington aiming to keep their momentum going after both recently returned from injury.
"They are not the biggest side and (most) physical side, but they certainly throw the ball around and put you under a lot of pressure," Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce said of the Tigers.
"Our defence will certainly be under the pump this week and it's a good challenge for us."
August 8, 2009 - 3:50PM
Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah stresses there is no room for complacency heading into Sunday's clash with a Roosters outfit determined to be the NRL's party poopers.
Four straight wins have lifted the surging Tigers to within two points of the top eight.
If they can win their upcoming matches against the struggling Roosters and Sharks, it would put the Tigers in prime position to end their three-year absence from the finals.
But Farah emphasised the Roosters' upset win over Newcastle last week meant the Tigers couldn't afford to drop their guard for Sunday's Sydney Football Stadium encounter.
"There's no teams you can be complacent against," hooker Farah said.
"The Roosters came out last week against Newcastle and I don't know if Newcastle were complacent or not and thinking they were going to win and the Roosters blew them off the park.
"There's five weeks left and a loss this week and everyone will be talking about us missing the eight."
Like many others at the club this week, Farah was keen to downplay any similarities between the Tigers' current surge and their late season charge to the premiership four years ago.
For their part, the Roosters - who occupy bottom spot on for and against from the Sharks - are eager to build on last week's victory.
Their run home gives them the chance to continue upsetting a number of finals aspirants.
Following Sunday's fixture, the Roosters play a cluster of other current top eight teams in Manly, the Bulldogs, Melbourne and the Cowboys.
"The last five games, we want to be a thorn in the side of the teams we are playing against," Roosters skipper Craig Fitzgibbon said.
Departing Roosters coach Brad Fittler said if his team scored a few wins at the end of the year and spoilt "a few teams' parties and momentum", it could still be a positive season for his club.
Fittler pulled off one of the selection shocks of the current campaign, choosing former Test fullback Anthony Minichello at five-eighth for Sunday's clash.
Minichello said he wouldn't be playing a tradition pivot's role and would switch between centre and five-eighth and line up as an extra fullback in attack.
The Tigers will have a near full-strength line-up to choose from, with forwards Keith Galloway and Chris Heighington aiming to keep their momentum going after both recently returned from injury.
"They are not the biggest side and (most) physical side, but they certainly throw the ball around and put you under a lot of pressure," Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce said of the Tigers.
"Our defence will certainly be under the pump this week and it's a good challenge for us."
