Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
EVEN at the end of just eight rounds last season the writing was already on the wall for both the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers.
The tricolours had shown they were right up with the premiership's top hopes, despite going down to South Sydney in the opening encounter.
During the first two months the Roosters lost two matches, scoring 208 points and conceding just 82. In the process setting a defensive excellence by keeping Brisbane, Parramatta and Canterbury scoreless.
They went on to take the title.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Conversely, the Tigers produced very little with just two wins in their first eight games to sit at the bottom of the ladder.
Things didn't get much better as the season progressed, with only five further victories to follow and ultimately a 15th-placed finish.
CORDNER: MORE MOA
On Friday night these two clubs meet and the writing is much less clear than 12 months ago.
The Roosters' early title defence hasn't been overly convincing with their four-win/four-loss record a decent barometer as to what they have shown.
The Roosters have been unable to maintain their winning consistency from last season. Source: News Corp Australia
Ironically, their best performance was against Souths in round one, which had plenty of people convinced they were to be the first side in a full competition to go back-to-back in 20 years.
Since then there have been glimpses of their best and they are still the team to beat, but there are reservations.
ORIGIN ROULETTE: YOUR CLUB'S FATE
On the other hand, the Tigers have got away to a flyer and deservedly sit in the top four.
Their football has been a wonderful mix of exuberance and aggression, which has seen them take the high-profile scalps of the Rabbits, Sea Eagles and Cowboys.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
There has also been a degree of inconsistency and the general feeling is that if they can maintain their early momentum they are finals bound, but there are reservations.
Round nine begins the middle third of the season, which, to my mind, is like the third day of a golf tournament — moving day.
By round 19 clubs will be hoping that they have put themselves in a strong position and then it is a case of consolidating through to finals time. They do not want to be facing too much pressure in playing catch-up and certainly want to avoid at all costs having to rely on other teams' results.
Rep football could affect big players like James Maloney. Source: Getty Images
Representative football will have an effect with the workload and degree of expectation rising for the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner, James Maloney, Robbie Farah, James Maloney and possibly Michael Jennings.
Before Origin, Friday night may give us some kind of insight as to where these two clubs are at.
The Roosters come off a particularly strong showing against the Dragons after tight matches against Cronulla and Parramatta.
They face a Tigers team that will be physical in their approach but combine that with an ability to play expansive football. It is not dissimilar to the Eels this year and the Roosters have struggled with such opponents.
Sterlo expects Sonny Bill Williams to target Tigers' Luke Brooks. Source: News Limited
The Tigers come off a rather ordinary effort against the Titans after stringing together three straight wins — something they haven't achieved since the middle of 2012.
They face a Roosters team that have strike right across the park, which is something you can never lose concentration or relax against.
I suspect Sonny Bill Williams will target Luke Brooks on the Tigers' left edge, knowing that he will require assistance in dealing with SBW's size and strength and that will bring the Kiwi's great off-load into play.
The fact that both coaches have named all forwards on their interchange benches is an indication that fire is about to be met with fire.
That will give us a further insight as to what these teams really have to offer.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Tigers can trouble Roosters: Sterlo
Dengan url
http://sportfoxer.blogspot.com/2014/05/tigers-can-trouble-roosters-sterlo.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Tigers can trouble Roosters: Sterlo
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Tigers can trouble Roosters: Sterlo
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar