Wests Tigers

Tigers looking to repeat 2005 glory

The Wests Tigers were forged in 2000 from two foundation clubs the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Balmain Tigers. That gives the new entity 200 years of combined rugby league history, but a new chapter was written in 2005 when the joint venture started playing home games at ANZ Stadium. It was the year the fans will never forget.

The young Wests Tigers side made the NRL finals for the first time on the back of a club record 8 match winning streak. In week one of the finals, they hammered the hapless Cowboys 50-6 at ANZ Stadium. Yet the Cowboys bounced back to confront the Wests Tigers in the Grand Final. In one of the most entertaining deciders seen at ANZ Stadium, the Tigers lifted the NRL trophy with a 30-16 win in front of 82,453 deliriously happy fans.

The Grand final had many memorable moments, none more so than Benji Marshall’s amazing flick pass to put winger Pat Richards in to seal the match. The pass was replayed so many times it became a part of every young child’s repertoire and the NRL used it as part of the promotion for the 2006 season. The famous victory now ranks alongside the joint venture’s previous glories. Balmain won a total of 11 premierships while the Magpies took 4 first grade titles.

The Wests Tigers will play 4 matches at ANZ Stadium in 2008 and play any home finals at the ground, looking to replicate 2005.

The Tigers continue to be among the most popular teams in the NRL and playing home games at ANZ Stadium in 2007 helped the club have the highest home crowd average among Sydney NRL clubs.