Round 26
Tigers 52 d. Rabbitohs 18

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Tigers farewell quartet in style
Sun September 3, 2006
The Wests Tigers have ended their disappointing premiership defending season on a high ending Shaun McRae's coaching spell at the Rabbitohs with a 52-18 thumping.

The win managed to push the Tigers into 11th overall position nudging past the Panthers by only two points on for and against aggregate.

It marks another year of the premiers hoodoo after the Bulldogs suffered a similar fate in 2005 with injuries crippling their title defence to see them finish in 12th position.

Farewelling servants Scott Prince, John Skandalis, Anthony Laffranchi and Shane Elford, the Tigers led 30-0 at the break on the back of Robbie Farah brilliance and an overall domination up front.

Amidst emotional scenes the Tigers Scott Prince said the emotion was close to what he experienced winning the Grand Final.

"Nothing will top winning the grand final but I guess today (the emotion) was sort of close," said Prince.

"It was a good send off, but I'm not looking forward to coming back here in an opposition jersey that's for sure."

"It's good to come away with the win, I'm happy from that point of view but unhappy we're not taking part in the finals."

The Tigers opened the scoring through Todd Payten in the third between before both teams arm wrestled over the next 15 minutes.

It was the only resistance shown by the Rabbitohs as the Tigers broke open the match with a brace of tries to Robbie Farah and Shannon McDonnell.

Ahead 18-0 the Rabbitohs showed little resistance as prop Chris Heighnington grabbed a double in the lead up to halftime to put the Tigers ahead 30-0 by the break.

Straight after the break John Skandalis farewelled the Tigers faithful in style by continuing the try streak for the big men, grabbing his only try of the year.

David Peachey put the Rabbitohs on the board moments later, but it was all in vain as the Tigers piled on further tries including a double to Daniel Fitzhenry and one to Shane Elford.

Buddy Gordon scored the Rabbitohs second try in the 59th minute with Scott Geddes capping the season for the red and greens with a meat pie late in the game.

Not many positives can be taken from Souths season that only featured three victories, the first of which was against a depleted Broncos side during origin.

The final scoreline of 52-18 highlighted the story of Souths season, but tribute must be paid to Nathan Merritt who scored 22 tries (out of South's 80 try total) in 24 games to be the NRL's leading tryscorer. Brett Stewart (20) and Rhys Wesser (19) were in second and third place on the list.

It is only the second time in history that the leading tryscorer has come from the last placed side, the only other occurrence does not compare, coming in 2002 when Nigel Vagana was the competition leading tryscorer as the Bulldogs were thrust into last place through the salary cap scandal.

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