In Rounds 13 to 18, Wests Tigers faced a defining stretch of their 2005 season.
A lean run had left them languishing outside the top eight, but over the next month they would produce a string of stirring performances that signalled they were becoming genuine contenders.
ROUND 13 vs STORM
A packed Leichhardt crowd welcomed the Tigers back to their spiritual home, and it looked like the perfect start when Shane Elford crossed early from a slick backline movement.
Melbourne soon found their rhythm though, with Matt Geyer and Billy Slater combining to punish the Tigers’ defence.
Jake Webster was another try-scorer for Melbourne after the break as the Storm ran away with the contest, while Geyer also crossed for a late try.
John Wilson’s four-pointer from a Scott Prince grubber gave the home fans something to cheer about in the closing minutes, but it was little consolation on a disappointing afternoon.
Consecutive losses left Tim Sheens’ men in search of answers.
Storm 30 (Slater 2, Bell, Geyer, Webster tries; Orford 3/3, Smith 2/2 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 14 (Elford, Wilson tries; Hodgson 3/4 goals) at Leichhardt Oval.
ROUND 14 vs SHARKS
The response came swiftly.
Written off by bookmakers at 100-1 to win the premiership, the Tigers reignited their campaign with a dazzling Friday night display against Cronulla.
Brett Hodgson was everywhere, scoring twice; his second four-pointer a stunner in which he leapt high to claim a Prince bomb in spectacular fashion.
Richards and Marshall also grabbed doubles, the latter dancing past defenders with his trademark footwork that left Sam Isemonger clutching at thin air.
The Tigers’ attack flowed beautifully, with Marshall and Prince controlling the ruck and shifting the ball wide at pace.
Richards’ second try sealed a statement win in a performance that not only snapped a losing streak but hinted at the consistency the club had long craved.
Wests Tigers 34 (Hodgson 2, Marshall 2, Richards 2 tries; Hodgson 5/6 goals) defeated Sharks 18 (Bird, Galloway, Williams tries; Covell 3/3 goals) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
ROUND 15 vs BRONCOS
Brisbane, brimming with Origin stars, handed the Tigers a brutal reminder of the gap that still remained to the league’s elite though.
Shaun Berrigan was unstoppable, bagging a double as the Broncos raced to a 16-6 lead.
Justin Hodges and Dane Carlaw added further tries to put the game beyond reach.
Benji Marshall provided the highlights for the visitors with two individual tries; the first a classic step past Brett Seymour and the second a determined chase to plant the ball down ahead of Berrigan.
Pat Richards and Daniel Fitzhenry also crossed late, but by then the result was decided.
Though well beaten, the Tigers’ willingness to fight until the final whistle showed the resilience they were beginning to develop.
Brisbane Broncos 40 (S. Berrigan, Carlaw, Hodges, Hunt, Lockyer, Michaels tries; Lockyer 6/7 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 22 (Marshall 2, Fitzhenry, Richards tries; Hodgson 3/4 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.
ROUND 16 vs DRAGONS
At Kogarah in Round 16 though, the Tigers announced themselves as a possible Finals contender with an impressive win over St. George Illawarra.
Hodgson sparked the afternoon after orchestrating a length-of-the-field try that finished with Ben Galea touching down, while Prince’s kicking game produced tries for both Hodgson and Marshall.
Laffranchi’s power close to the line kept the momentum rolling, while Elford and Richards terrorised the Dragons’ edge defence.
Richards bagged two tries in continuing his outstanding try-scoring season to date.
Leading 32-6, the Tigers briefly relaxed, allowing Saints back into the contest with three late tries.
But the damage was done. This victory was a turning point and proof that the Tigers could beat one of the competition’s heavyweights on their own turf.
Wests Tigers 32 (Richards 2, Galea, Hodgson, Laffranchi, Marshall tries; Hodgson 4/6 goals) defeated Dragons 24 (Creagh, Ennis, Payne, Sims tries; Ennis 4/4 goals) at Jubilee Oval.
ROUND 17 vs SEA EAGLES
Under the Friday night lights at Leichhardt, the Tigers produced one of their most thrilling displays of the year.
Marshall grabbed two tries; the first from a Prince kick, the second in which he helped create a linebreak for Dean Collis before supporting the outside back on the inside.
Farah’s service from dummy half was perfect, as was his outstanding running game, sending Fulton over for a slashing try as the Tigers ran riot.
Prince added a field goal for good measure, with Marshall's second try keeping the scoreboard ticking past 40.
Richards, Collis and Elford also featured heavily as the attack flowed across the park.
By full-time the scoreboard read 49-24, and Leichhardt Oval echoed with Tigers chants as belief among players and fans alike began to surge.
Wests Tigers 49 (Marshall 2, Elford, Farah, Fulton, Galea, Heighington, Whatuira tries; Hodgson 8/8 goals, Prince field goal) defeated Sea Eagles 24 (Harris 2, B. Stewart 2 tries; Witt 4/4 goals) at Leichhardt Oval.
ROUND 18 vs ROOSTERS
On the coldest day of the year, the Tigers warmed their supporters with a gritty win over a Roosters side stacked with experience.
Hodgson and Marshall both scored in the first half, while Whatuira’s try early in the second extended the lead.
The Roosters threatened through the likes of Craig Fitzgibbon and Brett Finch, but the Tigers’ defence stood firm when it mattered.
Ben Galea’s late try - hitting a short ball from Hodgson - sealed a third consecutive win, lifting the side to 20 competition points and into the top eight.
Marshall's try again showcased his incredible footwork, with the Kiwi wiz getting on the outside of Jamie Soward to cross for a memorable try early in the match.
Wests Tigers 26 (Galea, Hodgson, Marshall, Whatuira tries; Hodgson 5/7 goals) defeated Roosters 16 (Finch, Monaghan, Roberts tries; Fitzgibbon 2/2 goals, Roberts 0/1 goals) at Stadium Australia.
