Round 11 - Newcastle Knights VS Wests Tigers *Contains Spoilers*

Gee look at the difference of runs there. 30ish runs behind the Tigers. The only Newcastle forward I rate is Ben Cross. I like the guy, seems to put his head down and try hard. Tolar is also someone I rate from their pack. The other options are reasonably useless though. Taia wasn't very good last night.
At the start of the game I was happy for Rogers, was playing some good football but made a few amateur mistakes (despite playing first grade long enough to not make these mistakes). I will be interested to see what the next Newcastle team will be especially in the halves with Gidley coming back. I personally would go for:
6. Gidley
7. Dureau
Even though I thought Gidley was gun at halfback two weeks ago I thought Dureau played a decent game. I also believe that Naiquama played good enough to be retained at the back until McDonnell gets back so it gives Gidley even more of a chance of playing in the halves.
I thought the Knights had more positive signs in them than the Tigers. I would rather not applaud the Tigers victory because it was ordinary. It was probably worse than ordinary. The scoreline in the end flattered the Tigers, this game should of been high scoring affair. It probably would of too if it wasn't pissing down rain. Tigers won this one purely on the fact that they have two English men in their team (firmly tongue in cheek).
Seriously though, there was some improvement in this side regardless of some of the errors. I tend to agree with Rob that whoever Sheens picks at half needs to be given the chance to play the position. Lui may be a 5/8 currently but I am pretty sure if Sheens is persistent from now on through the new off-season he can turn him into a reasonable halfback. Junior Moors did play well this week and I think Tigers fans will start to see the potential he has. Wasn't given sufficient chances at Penrith and I think he could turn into a well rounded footballer.
Benji Marshall is shocking and is over rated as. He is not consistant enough to be considered a superstar, he is dire. There is little wonder Tim Sheens has hardly any hair. Sheens would be sitting in his box and every time Marshall makes a silly judgement pulls out his hair. The silly mistakes in the end weigh out some of Marshall's best. One example of this and I actually said it when I was updating this game last night, he kicked the ball on the second trying to get a miracle play when all he needed to do was to continue out the set. The Tigers were so close to the line they would of been near certain to score if it wasn't for that ridiculous judgement.

I can't believe I have watched two weeks of this crap dished up from the Tigers. They may have won this week but I am not convinced they are a finals side even when they get most of their injured players back. They had a chance to win me over but I am certainly not convinced. The Sharks could have beaten the Tigers last night and I would say pretty much every other NRL team would of beaten them tonight regardless of where they are on the ladder. The Knights just played terrible as well making some crucial and silly errors, some of the drop balls could of been caught by a 12 year old kid.