It's not exactly The Exorcist or The Shining, but the Wests Tigers were forced to sit through their own video nasty last week.
For a side brimming with confidence after a recent eight-game winning streak and a 50-6 demolition of the Cowboys last weekend, there's nothing like watching yourself being
humbled by the Broncos earlier in the season to bring you back down to earth with a thud.
Tim Sheens, as shrewd a coach in the business, pressed the play button from his side's 40-22 defeat to the Broncos the last time the two sides met in June and then sat back and let the images do the talking.
"The Broncos gave us a touch-up a little while ago, mate, so it was a good way for us to keep our feet on the ground," Tigers centre Paul Whatuira explained.
It wasn't just the scoreline that was ugly - factor in the seven tries conceded, the 66 tackles missed and the 18 errors and it's enough to prompt any player to reach for the antidepressants. However, the loss actually galvanised the side and they then went on to claim eight consecutive wins until their 34-22 loss to the Storm three weeks ago.
The Tigers are one of those sides that won't worry too much about who's standing in the other half when the game kicks off. They play on instinct, using their speed, skill, agility and mobility to bamboozle opponents.
Some commentators are even suggesting that the Tigers will change the very fabric of the game and the way it is played - especially if they can tie Sheens and Benji Marshall to long-term deals.
It's certainly one of the reasons why they have become a favourite of league fans on this side of the Tasman, and the fact four Kiwis are at the forefront of the revolution makes it even easier for punters to back the boys from Balmain.
Whatuira explained that while the Tigers are a tight unit as a whole, the Kiwi boys - Whatiura, Marshall, Dene Halatau and Bronson Harrison - often hang out together.
Despite being born in Wellington and having played his first NRL game for the Warriors in 2000, it's a sign of how Australianised Whatuira has become since he crossed the Tasman in 2001 that in the space of a seven-minute interview, he used the word "mate" 39 times.
When talking of the impact Marshall has made, he said: "Well, mate. He has such a high profile, mate. He's got his feet on the ground, mate. He knows what to do, mate.
"It's not just on his shoulders, mate. Everyone has to do their job as well. From within the team there's not much pressure on him but outside there's a lot of pressure. Benji is very confident in his own ability and that's what makes him the player he is, mate."
Strewth. Now that's scary.
Broncos: Karmichael Hunt, Scott Minto, Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Darren Lockyer (c), Brett Seymour, Shane Webcke, Barry Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Darren Smith, Brad Thorn, Tonie Carroll. Interchange: Corey Parker, Casey McGuire, Dane Carlaw, Sam Thaiday, Berrick Barnes, Neville Costigan, Darren Mapp (three to be omitted).
Tigers: Brett Hodgson, Daniel Fitzhenry, Shane Elford, Paul Whatuira, Pat Richards, Benji Marshall, Scott Prince (c), Anthony Laffranchi, Robbie Farah, John Skandalis, Ben Galea, Mark O'Neill, Dene Halatau.
Interchange: Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington, Bronson Harrison, Bryce Gibbs.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
It's not exactly The Exorcist or The Shining, but the Wests Tigers were forced to sit through their own video nasty last week.
For a side brimming with confidence after a recent eight-game winning streak and a 50-6 demolition of the Cowboys last weekend, there's nothing like watching yourself being
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.