Wests Tigers 2005
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Wests Tigers
season was the 6th in the joint-venture club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2005 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 4th position before reaching the 2005 NRL grand final
, their first, and winning to claim their maiden premiership.
, fought back to tie the game 36–36. With extra time seeming inevitable, a Dogs' error gave the Tigers possession and, with seconds remaining, a Scott Prince
field goal gave the side its first win. In Round 4 the Tigers beat the other 2004 grand finalists with a hard fought 26–16 win. A win followed against New Zealand in the rain in Christchurch (a Tigers home game).
In rounds 6–9 the team lost four games in a row despite often being competitive. The losing streak ended against the winless Newcastle Knights. During rounds 11–15 the Tigers remained in the bottom half of the table mixing promising wins with heavy defeats. They then shocked the league by going on a club record eight game winning streak. With victory against the Cowboys they guaranteed their first ever finals appearance. The winning streak included a club record 54–2 win over defending premiers, the Bulldogs. Despite losses in the final two games the Tigers finished in the top four and earned a home semi-final.
to the much larger Telstra Stadium
. As the Dragons had qualified for this game after week one their fans had an extra week to buy tickets to the game. As a result the majority of the capacity crowd were Dragons fans. An early Marshall try gave the Tigers a lead they never gave up. The 20-12 win meant the Tigers qualified for the Grand Final.
returned a kick beating several defenders before a flick pass to Pat Richards
. Richards, who needed an injection to overcome a leg injury, pushed away from Rod Jensen
to score, the Tigers leading 12–6 at the break. After half time Anthony Laffranchi
crashed over the try-line for an 18–6 lead before the Cowboys hit back. A Daniel Fitzhenry
try gave the Tigers a 24–12 lead. With two minutes to go the Cowboys crossed the try-line wide but the conversion attempt missed, leaving the score at 24–16. A try on full time to Todd Payten
saw a final scoreline of 30–16.
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
season was the 6th in the joint-venture club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2005 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 4th position before reaching the 2005 NRL grand final
2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
, their first, and winning to claim their maiden premiership.
Minor Premiership
The Tigers started the season at long odds for the 2005 premiership. The team had never qualified for a final series and had a relatively inexperienced squad. The season kicked off with a home game against Parramatta. The game turned when fullback Brett Hodgson had to leave the field with an eye injury. Two late tries allowed the Eels to wrap up the game. For Round 2 the team had a bye. In round 3 against defending premiers, the Bulldogs , the Tigers trailed 0–12 and 6–18 before scoring thirty unanswered points to lead 36–18 with 10 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs, inspired by Braith AnastaBraith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
, fought back to tie the game 36–36. With extra time seeming inevitable, a Dogs' error gave the Tigers possession and, with seconds remaining, a Scott Prince
Scott Prince
Scott Prince is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and current captain of the Gold Coast Titans club of the National Rugby League...
field goal gave the side its first win. In Round 4 the Tigers beat the other 2004 grand finalists with a hard fought 26–16 win. A win followed against New Zealand in the rain in Christchurch (a Tigers home game).
In rounds 6–9 the team lost four games in a row despite often being competitive. The losing streak ended against the winless Newcastle Knights. During rounds 11–15 the Tigers remained in the bottom half of the table mixing promising wins with heavy defeats. They then shocked the league by going on a club record eight game winning streak. With victory against the Cowboys they guaranteed their first ever finals appearance. The winning streak included a club record 54–2 win over defending premiers, the Bulldogs. Despite losses in the final two games the Tigers finished in the top four and earned a home semi-final.
Season Results
| Wests Tigers 2005 Season Results | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Opponent | Result | Date | Venue | Crowd | Referee | Position/15 |
| 1 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
Loss | 12 March 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
17,107 | Russell Smith | 13th |
| 12 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Richards, Whatuira; Goals: Hodgson 2) 28 - Eels (Tries: Cannings, Morris, Morrison, Peek, Tahu; Goals: Burt 4) |
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| 2 | Bye Bye Bye may refer to:*Bye , a special type of run scored in the game of cricket*Bye , when a player or team is allowed to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing*"Bye", a song by Elliott Smith from Figure 8... |
11th | |||||
| 3 | Bulldogs Canterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
Win | 27 March 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (A) |
19,984 | Paul Simpkins | 8th |
| 36 - Bulldogs (Tries: Anasta 2, Patten, Lolesi, Ryan, Sherwin; Goals: El Masri 6) 37 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Prince 2, Wilson, Harrison, Fitzhenry, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 6; Field Goals: Prince) |
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| 4 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
Win | 3 April 2005 | Sydney Football Stadium (A) | 13,946 | Steve Clark | |
| 26 - Roosters (Tries: Wing, Flannery, Monaghan, Tupou, Roberts; Goals: Robert 2, Fitzgibbon 1) 32 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Prince, Richards, Laffranchi, Whatuira, Heighington; Goals: Hodgson 6) |
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| 5 | New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
Win | 9 April 2005 | Jade Stadium Jade Stadium Lancaster Park, formerly Jade Stadium and currently known as AMI Stadium through sponsorship rights, is a sports stadium situated in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand.... (H) |
18,421 | Jason Robinson | 4th |
| 24 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Whatuira 2, Prince, Richards; Goals: Hodgson 4) 6 - Warriors (Tries: Byrne; Goals: Jones) |
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| 6 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
Loss | 16 April 2005 | Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North... (A) |
20,361 | Sean Hampstead | 6th |
| 44 - Cowboys (Tries: Sing 3, B Bowen 2, Lowe, Bowman, Jensen; Goals: Thurston 5, Rauhihi) 20 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Wilson, Fitzhenry, Whatuira, Marshall; Goals: Hodgson 2) |
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| 7 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
Loss | 23 April 2005 | Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels... (A) |
18,107 | Steve Clark | 9th |
| 26 - Eels (Tries: Grothe 2, Morrison, Tahu, Wagon; Goals: Burt 3) 16 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Farah 2, Richards; Goals: Hodgson 2) |
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| 8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Loss | 1 May 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
17,567 | Jason Robinson | |
| 32 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Fulton 2, Payten, Laffranchi, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 6) 40 - Dragons (Tries: Gasnier 2, Torrens 2, Hornby, Creagh, Best; Goals: Ennis 4, Head 2) |
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| 9 | Manly Sea Eagles | Loss | 8 May 2005 | Brookvale Oval Brookvale Oval Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team... (A) |
14,247 | Russell Smith | 13th |
| 34 - Sea Eagles (Tries: Kennedy 3, B Stewart, Hicks, Witt; Goals: Witt 5) 26 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Whatuira, Prince, Rieck, Fulton, Laffranchi; Goals: Hodgson 3) |
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| 10 | Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
Win | 15 May 2005 | EnergyAustralia Stadium EnergyAustralia Stadium Newcastle International Sports Centre is a multi-purpose sports stadium located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home ground of the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle United Jets teams. It is owned by the New South Wales government and administered by the Hunter Region... (A) |
15,881 | Tony Archer | 10th |
| 16 - Knights (Tries: Quinn 2, Thaiday; Goals: Campbell 2) 32 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Whatuira 2, Reick 2, Richards, Fulton; Goals: Hodgson 4) |
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| 11 | Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
Win | 22 May 2005 | Campbelltown Campbelltown Campbelltown can refer to:Places in Australia:*Towns/suburbs:**Campbelltown, New South Wales**Campbelltown, South Australia**Campbell Town, Tasmania*Government areas:**Electoral district of Campbelltown, state electoral district in New South Wales... (H) |
18,436 | Sean Hampstead | 10th |
| 28 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Whatuira 2, Heighington, Marshall, Farah; Goals: Hodgson 4) 16 - Raiders (Tries: Graham, Withers, Chalk; Goals: Gafa 2) |
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| 12 | New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
Loss | 29 May 2005 | Mt Smart Stadium Mt Smart Stadium Mt Smart Stadium, formerly Ericsson Stadium, is a stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the home ground of National Rugby League team, the New Zealand Warriors... (A) |
9,420 | Shayne Hayne | 11th |
| 21 - Warriors (Tries: Toopi 2, Villasanti, Byrne; Goals: Jones, Hohaia; Field Goals: Jones) 4 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Richards) |
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| 13 | Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
Loss | 5 June 2005 | Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus... (H) |
17,127 | Tony Archer | 11th |
| 14 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Elford, Wilson; Goals: Hodgson 3) 30 - Storm (Tries: Slater 2, Webster, Bell, Geyer; Goals: Orford 3, C Smith 2) |
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| 14 | Cronulla Sharks Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
Win | 10 June 2005 | Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a rugby league stadium in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. It is the full time home ground for the Western Suburbs Magpies District Rugby League Football Club and is one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers... (H) |
17,570 | Paul Simpkins | 11th |
| 34 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Marshall 2, Richards 2, Hodgson 2; Goals: Hodgson 5) 18 - Sharks (Tries: Williams, Galloway, Bird; Goals: Covell 3) |
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| 15 | Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
Loss | 18 June 2005 | Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium... (A) |
25,780 | Russell Smith | 12th |
| 40 - Broncos (Tries: S Berrigan 2, Michaels, Carlaw, Hunt, Hodges, Lockyer; Goals: Lockyer 6) 22 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Marshall 2, Fitzhenry, Richards; Goals: Hodgson 3) |
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| 16 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Win | 26 June 2005 | Oki Jubilee Stadium Oki Jubilee Stadium Jubilee Oval is one of two home stadiums used by the St. George Illawarra Dragons team, a rugby league club that plays in Australasia's National Rugby League. The R2K entity was instrumental in ensuring that NRL matches were played at Kogarah from 2003 onwards... (A) |
10,612 | Shayne Hayne | 12th |
| 24 - Dragons (Tries: Payne, Creagh, Sims, Ennis; Goals: Ennis 4) 32 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Richards 2, Marshall, Laffranchi, Galea, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 4) |
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| 17 | Manly Sea Eagles | Win | 1 July 2005 | Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus... (H) |
15,271 | Steve Clark | 10th |
| 49 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Marshall 2, Galea, Fulton, Heighington, Farah, Whatuira, Elford; Goals: Hodgson 8; Field Goals: Prince) 24 - Sea Eagles (Tries: Harris 2, B Stewart 2; Goals: Witt 4) |
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| 18 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
Win | 10 July 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
13,768 | Sean Hampstead | 9th |
| 26 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Galea, Whatuira, Marshall, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 5) 16 - Roosters (Tries: Finch, Monaghan, Roberts; Goals: Fitzgibbon 2) |
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| 19 | Bye Bye Bye may refer to:*Bye , a special type of run scored in the game of cricket*Bye , when a player or team is allowed to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing*"Bye", a song by Elliott Smith from Figure 8... |
7th | |||||
| 20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs South Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
Win | 24 July 2005 | Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus... (H) |
22,877 | Russell Smith | 6th |
| 42 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Farah 3, Elford, Prince, Fulton, Richards; Goals: Hodgson 7) 20 - Rabbitohs (Tries: L MacDougall 2, Sutton, Polglase; Goals: Champion 2) |
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| 21 | Cronulla Sharks Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
Win | 31 July 2005 | Toyota Park (A) | 18,321 | Tony Archer | 5th |
| 6 - Sharks (Tries: Peachey; Goals: Merritt) 46 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Prince 3, Richards, Marshall, Fitzhenry, Halatau, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 7) |
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| 22 | Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
Win | 7 August 2005 | Bruce Stadium (A) | 15,195 | Tony Archer | 4th |
| 14 - Raiders (Tries: D Howell, Graham, Mogg; Goals: Schifcofske) 22 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Hodgson 2, Fitzhenry, Farah; Goals: Hodgson 3) |
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| 23 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
Win | 14 August 2005 | Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a rugby league stadium in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. It is the full time home ground for the Western Suburbs Magpies District Rugby League Football Club and is one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers... (H) |
20,527 | Steve Clark | 4th |
| 28 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Prince, Halatau, Collis, Skandalis, Hodgson; Goals: Hodgson 4) 16 - Cowboys (Tries: Williams, Sargent, M Bowen; Goals: Thurston 2) |
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| 24 | Bulldogs Canterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
Win | 19 August 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
Steve Clark | 29,542 | 4th |
| 54 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Whatuira 3, Richards 2, Galea, Hodgson, Marshall, Prince ; Goals: Hodgson 9 ) 2 - Bulldogs (Goals: Young) |
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| 25 | Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
Loss | 27 August 2005 | Olympic Park Olympic Park An Olympic Park is a sports campus for hosting the Olympic Games. Typically it contains the Olympic Stadium and the International Broadcast Centre. It may also contain the Olympic Village or some of the other sports venues, such as the aquatics complex in the case of the summer games, or the main... (A) |
10,050 | Paul Simpkins | 4th |
| 34 - Storm (Tries: Geyer, Bell, Inglis, Kaufusi, Orford, C Smith; Goals: Orford 5) 22 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Fitzhenry 2, Whatuira, Richards; Goals: Hodgson 3) |
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| 26 | Penrith Panthers Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
Loss | 4 September 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
17,256 | Shayne Hayne | 4th |
| 22 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Richards 2, Whatuira, Marshall; Goals: Hodgson 3) 38 - Panthers (Tries: Howland 2, Waterhouse, Swain, Priddis, Rodney, Clinton; Goals: Campbell 5) |
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Players used
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  ParramattaParramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 704 | 456 | +248 | 36 |
| 2 |  St George IllawarraSt George Illawarra Dragons The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the... |
24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 655 | 510 | +145 | 36 |
| 3 |  BrisbaneBrisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 597 | 484 | +113 | 34 |
| 4 |  Wests TigersWests Tigers The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs... |
24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 676 | 575 | +101 | 32 |
| 5 |  North QueenslandNorth Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 639 | 563 | +76 | 32 |
| 6 |  MelbourneMelbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 640 | 462 | +178 | 30 |
| 7 |  CronullaCronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 550 | 564 | -14 | 28 |
| 8 | Manly Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 554 | 632 | -78 | 28 |
| 9 |  SydneySydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 488 | 487 | +1 | 26 |
| 10 |  PenrithPenrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 554 | 554 | 0 | 26 |
| 11 |  New ZealandNew Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 515 | 528 | -13 | 24 |
| 12 |  Bulldogs |
24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 472 | 670 | -198 | 23 |
| 13 |  South SydneySouth Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 482 | 700 | -218 | 23 |
| 14 |  CanberraCanberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 465 | 606 | -141 | 22 |
| 15 |  NewcastleNewcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 467 | 667 | -200 | 20 |
Finals Series
The Tigers played their first ever semi-final against fifth placed North Queensland Cowboys, a team who had played in the 2004 final series. After a tight opening, the Tigers ran riot to score a 50–6 win. Both teams qualified for week two with the Tigers meeting six time premiers the Brisbane Broncos in a knock-out game. The Broncos dominated early possession with Benji Marshall preventing a Darren Smith try before scoring a long range intercept try against the run of the play. Towards the end of the game the Tigers kicked clear to win comfortably. The win saw the Tigers meet the Dragons in a Grand Final qualifier. In the lead up to the game there was controversy over the venue with calls for the game to be moved from Aussie StadiumAussie Stadium
Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition...
to the much larger Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
. As the Dragons had qualified for this game after week one their fans had an extra week to buy tickets to the game. As a result the majority of the capacity crowd were Dragons fans. An early Marshall try gave the Tigers a lead they never gave up. The 20-12 win meant the Tigers qualified for the Grand Final.
| Wests Tigers 2005 Finals Series Results | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Opponent | Result | Date | Venue | Crowd | Referee |
| Qualifying Final | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
Win | 9 September 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... (H) |
26,463 | Paul Simpkins Paul Simpkins Paul Simpkins is a retired Australian professional rugby league referee, officiating in the Australian first-grade competition, National Rugby League. In addition to regularly working the NRL, Simpkins also officiated at the annual State of Origin tournament between Queensland and New South Wales... |
| 50 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Hodgson 3, Richards, Fulton, Whatuira, Fitzhenry, Elford; Goals: Hodgson 9) 6 - Cowboys (Tries: Sing; Goals: Hannay) |
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| Semi-Final | Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
Win | 18 September 2005 | Sydney Football Stadium | 36,563 | Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
| 34 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Fitzhenry 2, O'Neill, Prince, Marshall, Hidgson; Goals: Hodgson 5) 6 - Broncos (Tries: Lockyer; Goals: Seymour) |
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| Preliminary Final | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Win | 24 September 2005 | Sydney Football Stadium | 41,260 | Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
| 20 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Halatau 2, Heighington, Marshall; Goals: Hodgson 2) 12 - Dragons (Tries: Barrett, Naiqama; Goals: Ennis 2) |
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| Grand Final | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
Win | 2 October 2005 | Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... |
82,453 | Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
| 30 - Wests Tigers (Tries: Payten, Fitzhenry, Laffranchi, Richards, Gibbs; Goals: Hodgson 5) 16 - Cowboys (Tries: Sing, Norton, M Bowen; Goals: Hannay 2) |
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2005 Grand Final
Both the Cowboys and the Wests Tigers were playing in their first ever grand final. The Cowboys scored early and led 6–0. A Cowboys error allowed Bryce Gibbs to score a try to level the game. In a game defining moment, Benji MarshallBenji Marshall
Benji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments...
returned a kick beating several defenders before a flick pass to Pat Richards
Pat Richards
Pat Richards is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League. An Ireland and Exiles international representative winger, he previously played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers, winning the 2005...
. Richards, who needed an injection to overcome a leg injury, pushed away from Rod Jensen
Rod Jensen
Rod Frederick Jensen is a professional rugby league footballer for the Northern Pride in the QLD CupHe has previously played for Huddersfield Giants in Super League in the United Kingdom....
to score, the Tigers leading 12–6 at the break. After half time Anthony Laffranchi
Anthony Laffranchi
Anthony Laffranchi is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row. He previously played for the Wests Tigers...
crashed over the try-line for an 18–6 lead before the Cowboys hit back. A Daniel Fitzhenry
Daniel Fitzhenry
Daniel Fitzhenry is a former Australian professional rugby league player in Australia's NRL. He played for Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition before his switch to Hull KR before his release in October 2009. He returned to Wests Tigers in 2010...
try gave the Tigers a 24–12 lead. With two minutes to go the Cowboys crossed the try-line wide but the conversion attempt missed, leaving the score at 24–16. A try on full time to Todd Payten
Todd Payten
Todd Payten is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders, and played junior football with the Temora Dragons...
saw a final scoreline of 30–16.