Match Details
Match Date	27th Jul, 2018
Opponent	Wests Tigers
Result	Win 16-4
Coach	Dean Pay
Captain	Josh Jackson
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	9,865
Referee	Matt Cecchin Chris Butler

The only good news for Tigers fans arrived before kick-off last night.

The Tigers’ faint finals hopes were virtually buried by a stubborn Canterbury, who triumphed 16-4 at a near-empty ANZ Stadium, a disappointing effort for the joint venture considering they had so much to play for and were coming off strong wins against heavyweights St George Illawarra and South Sydney. Only the most stubborn Tigers supporter will retain hope of a September cameo.

For Canterbury fans, the news was better as their team moved to 12 competition points, leaving bitter rivals Parramatta outright last.

Speaking on Channel Nine before the game, Panthers supremo Phil Gould revealed he would not stand in the way of his playmaker Nathan Cleary linking with the Tigers and his father, coach Ivan Cleary, and even had an ‘‘agreement’’ in place.

It remains to be seen if Gould will cut the NSW Origin halfback loose for 2018, given he still has a year to run on his deal at Penrith.

Ivan certainly could have done with his boy against the Dogs as they struggled to mount any serious attack when the game was there for the taking against a tiring opposition in the final 20 minutes.

‘‘Ivan is a father who wants to coach his son. We all understand that. And Nathan is a son who wants to play for his father, and we all understand that,’’ Gould said. ‘‘I believe it will happen, and I would like to see it happen one day.

‘‘But the decision right now is in Nathan’s hands. Neither his father nor I are putting pressure on him. He will make that decision at the end of the year. Until Nathan comes knocking on my door, and not me knocking on his door, and says, ‘this is what I want do to’ ... I have an agreement with Nathan and if he wakes up one day and says, ‘Today I want to go and play with my dad, let’s make it happen’, I’ve got no problem with him going to play with his father whatsoever.’’ A win would have kept the Tigers in the finals race and just two points adrift of Penrith and the New Zealand Warriors overnight. But they almost looked out of puff after two big efforts the previous weeks.

Canterbury’s Kerrod Holland bagged a try-scoring double while young Lachlan Lewis again reminded Dogs fans why he is a player of the future.

Wally Lewis’ nephew somehow got back to his feet after a monster hit from Ben Matulino, and stopped a Luke Brooks grubber that could have led to a second Tigers try and set up a nervous final 10 minutes. Moses Mbye tried hard against his former club but was kept relatively quiet.

Canterbury’s best chances in the first half came via a few Lewis bombs that targeted Brett Morris’ wing, while the Tigers focused their attack at Holland and Reimis Smith.

While their defence was solid for the most part, the Tigers lacked energy when they had the ball.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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