2008 Wests Tigers season

(Redirected from Wests Tigers 2008)

The 2008 Wests Tigers season was their 9th in the NRL. Major signings for the 2008 season are former Dragons halfback Mathew Head, backrower Corey Payne, and back Nick Youngquest.

2008 Wests Tigers season
← 2007 2009 →

Season summary

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The Tigers had a successful opening to the season with a round 1 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons, 24–16 and a torrid round 2 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, 30–10.

Benji Marshall was injured in the third minute of round 1 with a knee ligament tear, sidelining him for eight to ten weeks.[1]

Three losses in a row and injuries to hooker, Robbie Farah, kept the Tigers in the bottom half of the ladder until a round 6 win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 20 April. Mathew Head returned to the NRL in round 5 after a year in the UK and recuperating from injury. Tigers then narrowly beat Cronulla Sharks 20-18.

Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall both returned to the team in the round 10 win against the Newcastle Knights. In a match that saw twelve tries scored between the two teams, Marshall scored two tries and kicked a 40/20. Mathew Head and Scott Dureau (Knights) also kicked 40/20s.

After a four game losing streak, the Wests Tigers ended the South Sydney Rabbitohs' run of five-straight wins, beating them 36–12 in round 19.

Another run of losses towards the end of the season kept the Wests Tigers out of the top eight for the third year in a row. The three losses coincided with the suspension of Todd Payten for a dangerous throw in round 22.

In the final match of the season, the Wests Tigers farewelled captain Brett Hodgson with a win over the Gold Coast Titans at Robina.

Players leaving the club at the end of the season include Brett Hodgson, Ryan O'Hara, Ben Te'o and Stuart Flanagan. It was also club CEO Steve Noyce's last year with the club.

2008 Season Results

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2008 Pre-season trials

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2008 Season Ladder

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Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Melbourne Storm 24 17 0 7 2 584 282 +302 38
2   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P) 24 17 0 7 2 645 355 +290 38
3   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 17 0 7 2 451 384 +67 38
4   Sydney Roosters 24 15 0 9 2 511 446 +65 34
5   Brisbane Broncos 24 14 1 9 2 560 452 +108 33
6   Canberra Raiders 24 13 0 11 2 640 527 +113 30
7   St George Illawarra Dragons 24 13 0 11 2 489 378 +111 30
8   New Zealand Warriors 24 13 0 11 2 502 567 -65 30
9   Newcastle Knights 24 12 0 12 2 516 486 +30 28
10   Wests Tigers 24 11 0 13 2 528 560 -32 26
11   Parramatta Eels 24 11 0 13 2 501 547 -46 26
12   Penrith Panthers 24 10 1 13 2 504 611 -107 25
13   Gold Coast Titans 24 10 0 14 2 476 586 -110 24
14   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 8 0 16 2 453 666 -213 20
15   North Queensland Cowboys 24 5 0 19 2 474 638 -164 14
16   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 5 0 19 2 433 782 -349 14

Players Used

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Current first-grade squad at 22 March 2008

No. Position Player

Brett Hodgson (captain) FB Shannon McDonnell FB Shannon Gallant FB Taniela Tuiaki WG Peni Tagive WG (Debut: Round 1) Beau Ryan WG Chris Lawrence CE Dean Collis CE Danny Galea CE Benji Marshall FE John Morris HB Mathew Head HB (Debut: Round 5) Tim Moltzen HB (Debut: Round 1) Bryce Gibbs PR Todd Payten PR Ryan O'Hara PR

No. Position Player

Luke Harlen PR Daine Laurie PR (Debut: Round 15) Ryan Tandy PR (Debut: Round 15) Robbie Farah HK Stuart Flanagan HK Corey Payne SR Dene Halatau SR Bronson Harrison SR Rocky Trimarchi SR Keith Galloway SR Tevita Metuisela SR Rhys Hanbury SR (Debut: Round 2) Ben Te'o SR Liam Fulton LK Chris Heighington LK

Gains and losses

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References

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  1. ^ a b Liam Fitzgibbon (16 March 2008). "Benji injury sours Tigers win". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Tigers too good for Cowboys". Fairfax Digital. 22 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 May 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Dogs dominate timid Tigers". Fox Sports News (Australia). 30 March 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Tigers keep Bunnies winless". Fox Sports News (Australia). 20 April 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  5. ^ Philip Henderson (27 April 2008). "Tigers land baited Sharks once again". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  6. ^ "Brilliant Broncos bust Tigers". Fox Sports News (Australia). 3 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  7. ^ Todd Balym (18 May 2008). "Sheens lets rip at Marshall law". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  8. ^ "Tigers hang on to topple Titans". Fox Sports News (Australia). 25 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  9. ^ "Benji back to his best". Fox Sports News (Australia). 7 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
  10. ^ "Electric Eels get season into gear". Fox Sports News (Australia). 15 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  11. ^ Wayne Heming (20 June 2008). "Broncos hold off fighting Tigers". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  12. ^ Tom Wald (29 June 2008). "Warriors topple wasteful Tigers". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  13. ^ Steve Jancetic (14 July 2008). "Inglis blows Tigers away". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  14. ^ Steve Jancetic (20 July 2008). "Tigers burst Bunnies' bubble". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Knee injury sours Penrith win". Fox Sports News (Australia). 26 July 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  16. ^ "Tigers condemn Dogs to new low". Fox Sports News (Australia). 3 August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  17. ^ Adrian Warren (8 August 2008). "Marshall puts Dragons to sword". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  18. ^ Steve Jancetic (18 August 2008). "Eels continue late finals burst". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  19. ^ "Sea Eagles fly back on course". Fox Sports News (Australia). 23 August 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  20. ^ Steve Jancetic (29 August 2008). "Sharks tame Tigers at Leichhardt". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  21. ^ "Tigers end season on high". Fox Sports News (Australia). 7 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  22. ^ "Tigers fume over heavy shots". Fox Sports News (Australia). 23 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  23. ^ "Titans hammer Wests at home". Fox Sports News (Australia). 1 March 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.