St George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers Preliminary Final, 2005 | Classic Match Highlights | NRL

The Dragons and Tigers faced off for a place in the big dance during the 2005 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
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[@SchmooMan]

I was there that day - and a week later. As I was leaving every Dragons fan wished us luck against the Eels the next week 🙂

[@buggylubby]

Everyone thought the eels would win lol

[@adthomp]

eels lose the next day 29-0 in a epic Brian Smith eels choke lol

[@dred3358]

its because the cowboys took out tim smith once he went off there was no chance the eels were winning

[@andale_andale]

Atmosphere and feel of the game was unreal back then

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Was the real GF

[@melbournemel9410]

Rest in Peace Lance Thompson

[@Operator_MetroSolid]

🙏 🕊🕊

[@rewster7]

I'll one day show this to my grandkids as proof that these teams used to be good.

[@renegadeone2058]

Best tigers team of all time 👌

[@scootvirtual5609]

@Mullet head True that Balmain side was awesome in 89, this though was the best West Tigers team after the joint venture occurred.

[@marknasser2843]

If you combine the 05 team with the 2010 team they'd be untouchable

[@Jonno_B251]

Simpler times and competent referees

[@ralphvitiello7992]

I was at that game . A packed house. Fantastic atmosphere.The lead changed several times.Some freakish play at times. A wonderful match to be at. Especially being in the stand behind the goal posts when Saints scored their last try. I remember the magical touches by Nightingale in the last 5 minutes. Roosters certainly unlucky but Saints never gave up.

[@user-qy8ry7mi5l]

54th minute Barrett wasn't held. Instead of a Dragons' line break and attacking for back to back tries, Tigers get rewarded with a penalty for their defensive lapse and score of the next set. Turning point. Thank heavens they changed the rules soon after this. Even a Captain's challenge would've been handy. That aside, the Dragons defense was not upto it. Benji ran around their compressed edge defense off a scrum in the 2nd minute, then Halatau simply ran straight through flimsy defense to score under the posts. 10 easy points in a semi-final. Gifted the game away.

[@Joel-vk2qd]

' galea is groggy but will keep going' after nearly being knocked out

[@adthomp]

today off for a HIA which the bunker till pick up and stop play for 5 mins. I am sure Benji try the bunker would look at it 20 times trying to find any obstruction out of the scrum and a reason not to give it.. that is what NRL has become in 2022

[@leong3760]

These games are better than the games nowadays lol

[@bruzzy4811]

We will never get another Benji, so excited for next year to see what he does with the tigers

[@m3rl707]

I love benji but unfortunately I dont think Sheens and Benji have what it takes to get us in the top 8 any time soon.

[@NickName183]

Oh boy I’m so excited for the 2005 Dragons v Eels grand final

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

thats probably what it should have been tbh. its a little silly in my mind that you can be 7th and 8th at the end of the regular season and theoretically still play in the grand final. it should be 1 vs 2

[@joelhungerford8388]

I was at that game. Behind the goals at the northern end amongst saints supporters. After the game all of the saints supporters said they were now going for wests next week

[@tyranmoses5521]

A fairytale story

[@komradzz3665]

Dragons are the biggest chockers of the modern era

[@garethwest9069]

Huge play from Prince early to gain possession in attacking zone. Barrett penalty 2nd half for playing on was huge; would've been called back to play the ball these days and continue Saints' momentum.

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Was a harsh call. Mander was good to tigers, he was bill harrigans opposite

[@braydenmartens7651]

That was a good game

[@percyfree9831]

Amazin best ever atmosphere, Drags needed more ball to Cooper,I drove bandwagon for many months on Talkin Sport Tigers to win GF,fab days when I got on air regular,don't bother now as virtually flkd,same most if ya know ya sport ya don't get a say

[@felixyoko9168]

What a game ,unbelievable ....

[@ryanroma5724]

Now this is nrl

[@Shashy_KuraKuro]

I wish I could be there that year as we won that year :((

[@joelhungerford8388]

I was at that game. Great night

[@kapuagutchen8171]

And then the payback 5 years later in 2010. Karma always comes back to Bite. Dragons Premiers in 2010. I think 10 players in this team ended up playing in 2010 Grand Final Team.

[@glenchapman3899]

It is one of the reasons I never dish teams, my team has beaten. What goes around always comes around again

[@jamesdobson9622]

Dragons 32 tigers 14

[@johnjullien-wk3pp]

Loved it.

[@mattandallthings]

Was there. As a Tigs fan went to every finals game. Was a miracle premiership. Scott Prince was the hero that year. He never gets any credit. It wasn't Benji.

[@matthewwakley3248]

1 million %, we have struggled for a decent half ever since. He was the key to that GF

[@mattandallthings]

@@matthewwakley3248 they have persisted with Brooks for way too long. A good solid player, but not a leader.

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

the grand final that year should have been eels vs dragons and eels winning. i think its a little silly that you can be the best team all year yet the GF was 4th place vs 5th place.

[@tigerwarsaw99]

So win your finals...

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

@@tigerwarsaw99 my point is there should be only one final. 1 vs 2.

[@tigerwarsaw99]

@@godemperorofmankind3.091 the draw is not even in regards to playing each other twice so that would be unfair.

[@godemperorofmankind3.091]

@@tigerwarsaw99 refusing to reward teams for being the first best and second best for 25 rounds is unfair. at the very least, i think more advantages should be given to the top 4 so a team that lost more than they won, all year, cant just stumble their way into the GF.

[@tigerwarsaw99]

@@godemperorofmankind3.091 doesn't mean they are the best nessarily and then there are star players out to origin and games lost. Top 5 finals system was the best.