It was a disappointing weekend for Wests Tigers in Round 8 with the club's NRL, Intrust Super Premiership, Jersey Flegg and Tarsha Gale teams all defeated.
The weekend is the first time that all four teams have suffered defeats in the same weekend, but still leaves a number of teams in impressive positions through the opening eight rounds of the year.
Wests Tigers will look to get back on track in Round 9 when they take on the New Zealand Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium, while the lower grades face the Dragons at UOW Jubilee Oval.
NRL
Parramatta Eels 24 def. Wests Tigers 22 at ANZ Stadium
It was a back-and-forth affair at ANZ Stadium as the lead changed hands six different times, before the Parramatta Eels emerged victorious courtesy of a late Manu Ma'u try. Benji Marshall looked to have put the visitors in the box seat when he crashed over off a Mahe Fonua offload late in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Eels handed Wests Tigers their defeat of the season — all by just two points.
ISP
Wentworthville Magpies 26 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 6 at Ringrose Park
Missing a number of key players, Brett Hodgson's side suffered their heaviest defeat of the season on Sunday as they were knocked off the top of the Intrust Super Premiership ladder by a determined Wentworthville side. Luke Garner's try to start the second half gave the Magpies a hope of turning around the 8-0 deficit at the break, but the NRL experience of the home side was enough to get Wenty home. With four Jersey Flegg-eligible players featuring in the match, there were still plenty of positives for Hodgson's side going forward, with a chance to bounce back next weekend against the Dragons at Kograh.
JERSEY FLEGG
Parramatta Eels 26 def. Wests Tigers 14 at Ringrose Park
Playing without a number of regular players, it was always going to be a tough ask for Wests Tigers against a strong Parramatta side, who ran out comfortable 26-14 winners at Ringrose Park. The home side led 14-4 at half-time and extended that lead to an untouchable margin with 10 minutes remaining, before two late tries to Curtis Wilson and Heath Gibbs added some respectability to the scoreboard. Wests Tigers still remain winless after eight weeks of the Jersey Flegg season, and face the 8th-placed Dragons next week.
TARSHA GALE
Newcastle Knights 26 def. Wests Tigers 16 at St. Mary's Leagues Stadium
A heartbreaking end for Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale side, who were knocked out of their Grand Final qualifier by the Newcastle Knights in a highly-entertaining contest. After losing strike centre Shaylee Bent early in the match, Wests Tigers battled bravely and trailed by just one try all match but were unable to take advantage of their chances and level the match, before a late Knights try sealed the win. To go within one game of the Grand Final just 12 months after a season that saw the girls not win a game is still a remarkable achievement for the Tarsha Gale side, and one that certainly paves the way for a strong future for Wests Tigers in the womens game.
