Tigers dare to dream of NRL finals run

Wests Tigers veteran Braith Anasta says his side hasn't given up on making a late run at the NRL finals.

Tigers dare to dream of NRL finals run

Wests Tigers veteran Braith Anasta says his side hasn't given up on making the NRL finals.

Veteran back-rower Braith Anasta knows the finals are a pipedream for Wests Tigers, but that won't stop them believing in miracles.

Starting with Monday night's home game against Manly in Campbelltown, the Tigers need to win all seven of their remaining matches to secure an unlikely finals berth - an improbable assignment given they have won just six games all season to date.

But remembering Parramatta's remarkable run to the 2009 grand final - after they were considered 150-1 longshots midway through the year, Anasta says the Tigers have to keep the faith.

According to Anasta, the key to any sort of run will be just to win one game.

"You just try and win games," Anasta told AAP.

"The last month or so you've got the semis in the back of your mind, whereas now we just want to win games, you're not really thinking semis too much.

"Deep down you're dreaming of making the semis and hoping that you get on a run and make a play at it.

"It's possible with the squad we've got here - the form we've shown the past couple of months, we know we can beat teams.

"We know it's possible - you look at team like Parra that made that run - there's a few teams that have done that in the past."

In departing star Benji Marshall, the Tigers have a player of similar ilk to Jarryd Hayne, who almost single-handedly carried the Eels to those 2009 finals.

But they face a tough ask against the Sea Eagles, who appear to be warming to the challenge, having won three on the trot.

Still to confirm a top four berth, Manly still have plenty to play for, their recent good form coinciding with the return of fullback Brett Stewart from injury.

Stewart has helped reinvigorated the Sea Eagles' attack, which has averaged more than 40 points per game over the last three matches.


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Source: AAP


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