BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

While much has been made of Wests Tigers’ nomadic existence and lack of a true home ground since their emergence in 2000 – there is one frightfully lonely statistic that gives the club a tag no other team in the National Rugby League can boast.

The Wests Tigers are the only side in the premiership not to play finals footy since 2016.

Even the battling and current wooden spooners, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, tasted September footy back in 2016. Since then, they have finished 11th, 12th, 12th. 15th and 16th respectively.

While it is frustrating enough for Wests Tigers fans to accept that their team hasn’t played in the playoffs since 2011, it’s harder to swallow that every other opposition club, player and fan has at least been able to get fired up and have a fingertip on the trophy at the end of the regular season.

Since 2016, Wests Tigers have finished the season 9th on three occasions.

St George Illawarra and the New Zealand Warriors are the other clubs with one appearance next to the Bulldogs in the same period.

Incredibly, the impressive Melbourne Storm organisation has qualified for the top 4 on every occasion.

Penrith, Cronulla and the Roosters sit second overall with 5 finals appearances.

It comes on the back of the Wests Tigers announcing a five-team leadership group with all five expected to captain the side throughout the season. They include incumbent skipper James Tamou, locals Adam Doueihi and Luke Brooks, utility journeyman Tyrone Peachey and winger Ken Maumalo who has made 10 appearances for the club since joining Wests Tigers from the Warriors in June last year.

“On behalf of everyone at Wests Tigers I would like to congratulate the five players on their appointment to the club’s leadership group ahead of the 2022 season,” Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said on Tuesday.

“It’s great to have a group that consist of players in different stages of their careers, and I look forward to working closely with this group over the coming year.”

Former Wests Tigers cult hero Michael Chee-Kam, now at South Sydney, was bemused by his former club’s decision.

“You have your natural leaders, but you want one guy as a captain,” Chee-Kam told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“You want that guy who leads you on and off the field. Jimmy [Tamou] is a natural leader.

“He’s a massive leader. He’s a good captain.”

In better news for the club and their fledgling relationship with Macarthur and Sydney’s south-west as it appears things are finally on the up with one of their club’s representative teams.

On the weekend, the Western Suburbs Harold Matthews Cup side won their third consecutive game to start the season – against the mighty Parramatta Eels, no less.

It has been a long time since the Magpies defeated Parramatta at that level and in recent seasons have given up scores like 34-6, 56-0, 52-10 and 42-6 against the powerhouse Eels development system.

Their new coach is former Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Mears.

SINCE 2016
REGULAR SEASON TABLE

TOP 4 FINISHES
Storm 6
Roosters 4
Rabbitohs 3
Panthers 2
Eels 2
Raiders 2
Sharks 2
Sea Eagles 1
Broncos 1
Cowboys 1

BOTTOM 4, TOP 8 FINISHES
Panthers 3
Sharks 3
Broncos 3
Eels 2
Knights 2
Titans 2
Sea Eagles 2
Roosters 1
Raiders 1
Rabbitohs 1
Dragons 1
Warriors 1
Cowboys 1
Bulldogs 1

OVERALL TOP 8
Storm 6
Panthers 5
Sharks 5
Roosters 5
Broncos 4
Eels 4
Rabbitohs 4
Sea Eagles 3
Raiders 3
Knights 2
Titans 2
Cowboys 2
Dragons 1
Warriors 1
Bulldogs 1

@woodward_curtis