The Mole: ‘Familiar Heartache’ Plagues Wests Tigers as Grim Record Prepares for Extension

After showing some early promise this season, it seems like it’s the same disappointing narrative unfolding for Tigers supporters.

Six consecutive losses—soon to be seven when they square off against the Roosters next week—mark the grim reality of 14 years without finals football for the joint venture.

To make matters worse, the club stands to lose its top two young talents, Lachie Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva, who should have been long-term Tigers, before June 30, painting an even bleaker picture.

BIG NAMES HUGHES COULD OVERTAKE

Will Jahrome Hughes ultimately be recognised as the finest Kiwi rugby league player in history?

New Zealand has produced numerous exceptional players over the years, including Mark Graham, Hugh McGahan, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki, the Sorensen brothers, Stephen Kearney, Benji Marshall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Shaun Johnson, to name a few.

However, with Hughes’ game continuing to develop, he appears poised to surpass them all.

He has clinched both the Dally M and grand final double, and remains a pivotal figure in the Storm’s latest title challenge.

Hughes has faced challenges on his journey to the pinnacle—having played one game for the Cowboys only to be released, and another game at the Titans before being cut again, until the legendary Craig Bellamy recognised his potential.

Since then, Hughes has not looked back, establishing himself as one of the modern era’s truly outstanding players.

DOLPHINS ON THE BRINK OF HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT

The Dolphins are poised for their inaugural finals appearance, and their attacking prowess could make them a formidable force in crucial encounters.

There’s no more lethal ball carrier in the open field than the electrifying fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who marked his 100th match with an astonishing four tries against Souths.

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Halfback Isaiya Katoa is the top young playmaker in the competition, dazzling fans with his exquisite ball handling against Souths on Saturday night.

Centre Herbie Farnworth is arguably the top player in his position worldwide, while hooker Jeremy Marshall-King propels the team forward with his astute plays from dummy half.

Although losing Kodi Nikorima to a hamstring injury was a tough setback as he was in career-best form, the Dolphins continue to unearth players capable of stepping up and are currently the most exciting team to follow in rugby league… without a doubt.

SHARKS’S AGITATOR TASTES HIS OWN MEDICINE

Storm players clearly have a long memory and believe that revenge is best served cold.

Last month, Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo taunted and sledged Melbourne players during a thrilling 31-26 win over Craig Bellamy’s team.

The Storm had a clear plan for retribution and ensured Ronaldo received a dose of his own medicine, rolling to a convincing 30-6 victory at AAMI Park.

Like many of his teammates, Ronaldo struggled to make an impact and had little to say in response.

KYLE SHOWS HIS DAD HE WAS RIGHT TO BELIEVE

No player in the NRL has faced more scrutiny recently than Dragons halfback Kyle Flanagan.

With his father coaching the team and whispers of bias as he retained his position during a string of losses, the scrutiny couldn’t have been easy for the young player.

Therefore, it was refreshing to see Flanagan play a pivotal role in the Dragons’ 34-20 victory over the Eels in Wollongong on Saturday night.

Flanagan scored a try, executed his kicks well, and effectively directed play, alleviating some pressure from both himself and his father.

This win was a brave effort by the Dragons, who battled through a number of injuries during the game and even in the warm-up.

UNSUNG HEROES BEHIND CANBERRA’S ASCENT

While the Raiders’ spine may lack the star power of teams like the Storm and Panthers, they are doing a remarkable job under the guidance of Ricky Stuart.

Kaeo Weekes has been performing as well as any fullback in the game, Tom Starling is helping the team progress well from dummy half, Jamal Fogarty’s kicking has been superb, and Ethan Strange is a very exciting prospect.

All four players excelled during the nail-biting win over the Knights, gradually steering the Green Machine towards a top-four finish.

For a team previously labelled as wooden spoon contenders just months ago, this is a remarkable turnaround.

TURBO’S PERFORMANCE RELIEVES PRESSURE ON COACH

Though he might not appreciate it, Tom Trbojevic is set for a longer stint in the centres for his beloved Manly.

While he didn’t exactly light up the field in his highly talked-about shift closer to the action during the scrappy win against the Tigers on Friday night, there were certainly more positives than negatives.

He made it through unharmed, the backline operated quite well, and most importantly… Manly secured the win!

Turbo covered over 130 metres, Lehi Hopoate showcased his skills at fullback, and the pressure has temporarily eased on the beleaguered coach Anthony Seibold.

‘INCREDIBLE MOTOR’ ON DISPLAY FROM HOOKER

Defence was the primary focus in the Thursday night thriller between the Panthers and the Bulldogs.

The Panthers managed to edge out a narrow 8-6 victory, marking their fourth consecutive win after previously languishing at the bottom of the table.

The standout performance came from the unsung hooker Mitch Kenny, who achieved an astounding 64 tackles within the 80 minutes played.

While I’m not a huge fan of Kenny’s complete game as I believe he doesn’t always present a threat from dummy half, credit must be given where it’s due—his tackle count was the highest this season, showcasing the incredible work rate of the player wearing the No.9 jersey.