Roy Skillen 1Tigers in purgatory: finals dream or relegation battle?
July 28th 2008 03:05
Northern Tigers are in an extraordinary position with four games left in the regular season.
Sitting ninth on the ladder, the North Shore side's mid-table purgatory means they are a still a possibility of making the finals, while also not completely safe from suffering relegation.
Last Sunday afternoon's 3-0 loss to third-placed Parramatta Eagles at Melita Stadium will not help their dream of making the finals for the third year running.
A frustrated coach Hugh McCrory, who coached them into the top five in his first two seasons at the helm, is even having to consider the danger of relegation.
"We're probably not gonna make the semis so it's 'backs to the wall' survival stuff here."
The Tigers have lost four out of their last five games since their 0-0 draw with top dogs Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Stadium, and their coach has been rightly disappointed with the form of the side that won the league and made the grand final season 2007.
Injuries, suspensions and lacklustre performances have left the side perplexed and disheartened, and possibly looking to next year.
"From dominating last year to this - it's chalk and cheese," McCrory said. "We're just looking for that winning feeling. We haven't had it in a while."
The Tigers are also facing the propect of their own form not being the only deciding factor in where they finish on the ladder. The wet weather this season has left half the teams in the league with one or two games still to be replayed.
Time and the bounce of the round ball will soon tell their fate.
Sitting ninth on the ladder, the North Shore side's mid-table purgatory means they are a still a possibility of making the finals, while also not completely safe from suffering relegation.
Last Sunday afternoon's 3-0 loss to third-placed Parramatta Eagles at Melita Stadium will not help their dream of making the finals for the third year running.
A frustrated coach Hugh McCrory, who coached them into the top five in his first two seasons at the helm, is even having to consider the danger of relegation.
"We're probably not gonna make the semis so it's 'backs to the wall' survival stuff here."
The Tigers have lost four out of their last five games since their 0-0 draw with top dogs Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Stadium, and their coach has been rightly disappointed with the form of the side that won the league and made the grand final season 2007.
Injuries, suspensions and lacklustre performances have left the side perplexed and disheartened, and possibly looking to next year.
"From dominating last year to this - it's chalk and cheese," McCrory said. "We're just looking for that winning feeling. We haven't had it in a while."
The Tigers are also facing the propect of their own form not being the only deciding factor in where they finish on the ladder. The wet weather this season has left half the teams in the league with one or two games still to be replayed.
Time and the bounce of the round ball will soon tell their fate.
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