Benji Marshall does his best Cher and turns back time, whilst Brookvale was named aptly; and Manly fans who are familiar withShawshank Redemption will forever remember the phrase “BROOKS WAS HERE” for totally different reasons.
Check out my delayed live tweet of the game below!
If you are going to do something, do it right.
That’s why I’ve never really gotten into twitter… on one hand, 280 characters limits what you can post, calling for reactive, live commentary which can provide a truly special context. On the other hand, if I gave up halfway through – say if my tigers started getting pummeled and I didn’t want to communicate with anyone, let alone all of twitter – then it kind of ruins the point of a proper live tweeting experience.
So I’m going to do both. I’ll tweet, for sure. 280 chars max. But I’m sure as hell not posting them on twitter. And even more sure that I’m going to have my head half in my phone while the game is on if I do.
So I’ll just take notes of my observations and post them later. All together. Plenty of other blogs will record their own insights but when I look carefully at a game, it’s pretty damn funny. You’ll see, and if you look hard enough it’s even funny when your team is down by 50 – and as a tigers fan, I’d know
So here we go! Some notes… I’m going to watch channel nines coverage today for one reason and one reason alone. As I take notes I like to update the game clock – and fox decided that THIS was the year they’d bring back the US-style countback clock system.
I’ll have to put up with Gus but it’s worth it
Kickoff
Beautiful sunny day at Brookvale. Tigers have been more consistent but manly have been one of the most explosive – when they’re on. Should have been there. Both young teams. My dads a manly fan and he reckons they’re shit this year – I hope he’s right this afternoon
5.30
Tigers were stuck in their own 20 until a lucky penalty – and all of a sudden they get a line dropout after looking very strong in attack. And they score off a brooks kick on the next set without looking too pressured. Chris Lawrence has come full circle and is a try scoring centre again at the age of 29! Tigers 6-0 from one penalty
11.00
Another penalty for the tigers and a Benji Marshall break gives them another attacking chance. Another line dropout. Everything going the Tigers way in the opening 10. Another penalty (3-0 now) leads to another two points. 2/2 coming away with points from the manly try line. tigers 8-0, 84% possession so far.
12.30
The best try from the tigers all year. Like wow, wipeout. Brooks creates space on the left and aiquama goes through, and hold it up until DWZ takes a screamer from naiquama to score on the left side. Three from three successful entries. Manly shell shocked. Dad may have been onto something. Tigers 14-0. Tigers 8/8 completions manly 1/1
17.00
And again. Brooks flick pass to naiqama, and they’re attacking. They get another… line dropout. They’ve had two so far both have led to tries on the 5th – but not this time. Looking dangerous on every play but manly finally get possession and a penalty to piggyback themselves out of their area. I don’t think anyone can believe the scoreboard at the moment Manly look shellshocked. Tigers 14-0
18.20
Manly finally get an attacking chance that comes to a nothing play on the last… Corey Thompson goes through for the tigers… tigers make their first error losing the ball 10m out from the manly line – 30 secs ago manly were attacking. The energy of the tigers seems too much at the moment for manly, but they get to their last and find touch to give the game its first real breather. And I need one that’s for sure. Tigers 14-0
21.40
The tigers are breaking the line almost every set. Or getting piggyback penalties. Another one sees them into attacking position again, and Brooksy has totally bossed this game from the opening minute. Benji gets another line dropout – the tigers have never been more efficient with the ball. Never ever.
24.15
Josh Reynolds mentioned for the first time. He’s on the bench today for his first match all year, but there are a few blokes in the way. Tigers 14-0
25.00
Manly lose the ball off a scrum 10m out from their own line. My boy Twal is on, and almost loses it over the line! Tigers have lost a small step in attack but Manly don’t look like they have much of a response at this stage. They look pedestrian in attack after so much early defensive effort. Benji looks 18 years old again. Cleary has literally breathed life into this group of journeymen and jaded youth. Tigers 14-0
30.20
Manly just keep losing the ball… tigers with another opportunity. They haven’t taken points the last 2 or 3 visits, but brooksy runs at the post and puts it down through Trbo’s legs… he deserves a try – he’s killing it. Tigers 20-0 and good value for their lead too
Luke Brooks burrows through Manly defense to score under the posts
32.00
Benji manages 2 bombs on the same play, before DWZ bundles Tommy Trbo into touch after the second take. Irrepressible is a word that comes to mind. I’m not used to finding these kind of flowery descriptors for the Wests Tigers league team. How am I doing? Well, Benji scored another whilst I was thinking of a word. He’s a doer, that Benji. And from (yet another) Brooks pass, obviously. Tigers 16/19 completions. Manly 5/8. Unheard of. The halftime stats will make crazy viewing. Eagles have had 4 errors all unforced. Tigers 26-0
38.00
Tigers have another repeat set in manly’s 20 – the commentators can hear the tigers chant at Brookvale. It must be quiet if they can hear 5 guys singing. Tigers 26-0
40.00 – halftime
Manly have the final set of the half. Kick goes out on the full – may as well have been a field goal for all the good it did them. 11 halves of football from the tigers in 2018, 5 have been scoreless. Benji has the biggest smile on his face walking off being interviewed by Freddy. You can’t see it but mine is bigger
Pre second half thoughts
1. not really much to analyse – the tigers are working their plans and manly are not made of tough enough stuff. Benji and Brooksy making everyone look good, and russel packers absence has hardly been noted
2. Two wins against the storm should be enough to tell anyone what’s up. The only team to beat us is coached by Wayne Bennett and the ref won the match for them. This half of football us put the NRL on notice for sure. This is the half of football I expected against parra 2 weeks ago – completing this match well will leave the fans, the media and especially the players with no doubt as to the power this team has.
3. 5 years ago when up by this type of margin the tigers would have been odds on to let the opposition back in. The biggest ever comeback was against the tigers, and for me, being almost run down today, given the past 5.5 matches, would be as bad as the loss
4. Is tommy trbo injured? My question is; where are the other 16 manly players?? They only had 21% of the ball in the first 40
Second half begins – Tigers 26 Manly 0
40.30 manly make an error in the first set of the second half. They aren’t exactly off to the best start. Uate then loses it in goal off the kick, and he is cooked. Tigers attacking again, earlier than even they would have expected. Apparently Trent Barrett’s tirade failed to inspire #shockhorror
Two images that sum the afternoon up perfectly
43.30
Manly make 50m off an odd Chris Lawrence kick, and lose it again. Masters makes 50m back down the right, and it’s business as usual. Marshall over for his second off a kangaroo step. Game over already. Tigers 32-0
46.50
Look I’m just going to stop typing and enjoy watching. Reynolds is on so let’s see what he does. I’ll jump in again if there is a sudden resurgence by manly or if there is something really funny. Tigers 32-0
57.00
Manly get their first try after completing what I believe might be their first set of the second half on the back of successive penalties. 5/10 completions versus 6/6 tigers, so getting more ball but just not using it. Tigers 32-6
68.00
Manly have had more possession but the tigers have been smart with the ball they’ve had. Manly attacking the line more to give a bit of batting practise for tigers defenders but the game is cooling off now with the result beyond doubt. Tigers 32-6
74.30
Reynolds off. He definitely needed the run and Cleary will be thrilled he was able to give him 30 mins. He’s def not match fit yet and if he’d been thrown onto the run-on side he would have been off after 20 anyway with 27 corks. Tigers 32-6
76.10 manly get another try from a left side play. Conversion from the touch line successful. Manly have won the second half so far but the Tigers certainly won the day. Tigers 32-12
79.00 Jacob Liddell draws a remarkable penalty try for the tigers to finish the game in the weirdest possible way – then again after everything I’ve seen this afternoon I cant really say I’m surprised…
Daly-Cherry Evans is ruled to have denied Jacob Liddle the chance to score, resulting in an ultra-rare penalty try
Full time: Tigers 38 Manly 12.
Manly begin the second half in worst possible way. The tigers only needed one try, scored minutes into the half, to finish Manly off. Two late manly but the damage was done – the tigers had just enough energy to keep their game together for 80 mins without racking up a cricket score
Final thoughts:
Only the second ever win at Brookvale for the tigers. Clearly all kinds of history will
Be made in 2018.
They may not have dominated the second half like the first – but That first half may be their BEST EVER statistically, but they finished strongly enough to consider it a caning.
Defence has been key throughout – and today it allowed the tigers attack to shine. Today the flair was there and Benji looks a million bucks again. His swagger game is well and truly on, he’s taking hit ups and kicking great bombs and managing the game superbly. Benji is easily the NRL’s buy of the year
Brooksy! Son, chill out or NSW will tap you for the 7 jersey. Kick a few dead occasionally to keep the selectors honest pls xx
Joey Johns, discussing the Tigers’ chances of making the finals in 2018: “absolute morals”
They are now 5-1 for the first time in their history. Easily their best ever defensive season, by a substantial margin. Bravo so far Ivan and the boys!
Newcastle next week. Expecting more of the same if I’m being totally honest 🐅🐅🐅

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, please like and share and give me feedback if you want!!
Daniel Elison 