Tigers surge into NRL title favouritism
The Wests Tigers surged into equal favouritism with Melbourne for the NRL premiership after Friday night's 21-12 win over 2010 champions St George Illawarra.
TAB Sportsbet reacted to the Tigers' impressive second half comeback by installing them at $3.75 for the title, equal with minor premiers the Storm.
Manly are $5.50, Brisbane $6.50 and the Dragons $7.50.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens was giving no credence to his fourth-placed side's rising stocks.
"Eight weeks ago no one tipped us and we won eight (in a row)," he said.
"Then we went back to no one tipping us tonight so I don't really give a damn about what the bookies are doing.
"We just need to concentrate on our own football to be quite honest."
The Tigers looked to have fallen over when they fell behind 12-6 after a clinical first half Dragons performance.
But they turned the game on its head in the second 40 minutes with aggressive defence and stunning ball movement that would have sent a shudder through the rest of the competition.
Captain Robbie Farah said the turnaround stemmed from the confidence that had been in the side all year.
"The belief's there, it's been there for a while, no one gave us a chance tonight," he said.
"We believed, we just kept plugging away."
Sheens may get injured centre Chris Lawrence (hamstring) and forward Todd Payten (calf) back if other results mean the Tigers play next weekend.
But the coach isn't looking that far ahead.
"We'll just lick our wounds over the weekend and let everyone else bash each other and see where it falls on Monday," Sheens said.
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