The Storm’s annihilation of the plucky Tigers certainly ended the weekend’s NRL with an exclamation mark!
64-0 needs no explanation – it’s a flogging that actually could have read worse. Outclassed, outmuscled, outcoached, outskilled – out of their depth.
Any of the above could be used to describe what happened at AAMI Park on Sunday. But as bad as it was, for me there was still a glimmer of hope.
In an era where pretty much every club uses a similar pattern of play, the Tigers – I agree, not on Sunday – have played a draw and pass, back up wherever you are on the field, brand of footy.
Sure, their results don’t speak volumes for that type of game, but that is because at the end of the day, all clubs need class players, and many of the Tigers are still cubs.
But the same cannot be said for the Broncos, Manly, Roosters and Rabbitohs. Each of those clubs is stacked with class players and yet after 10 Rounds in the NRL, all sit on the same points as the Tigers.
Many can argue that this year the NRL is there for any club to win, and certainly it’s a good argument. But this year also has a pattern to it – most clubs, except for the Tigers, play a very similar game.
I know they were absolutely hammered in Melbourne, but blind Freddie could tell that the Tigers didn’t look ready when they took the field and the Storm were. It’s as simple as that!
It is a simple game rugby league, but there are so many parts to it that have to be turned on when the team leaves the dressing rooms.
This lesson, through many tough years has been learned by the Warriors, and look at their results.
