Campo's Corner: Why St George Illawarra against Wests Tigers is the people's match of the round

There is no problem in rugby league that can't be fixed by winning. It cures everything. 

Coach under pressure? Win some games. Want a new contract? Win some games. Newspapers on your back? Win some games. Fans not showing up? Win — and this can't be stressed enough — some games.

If you suggested two weeks ago that the Dragons hosting the Tigers would be close to the match of the round, they'd have called the men in the white coats because you would clearly be a danger to yourself and others if you would entertain such delusions. They were not really playing football – football was just kind of happening to them.

And yet here we are, with the joint ventures going head to head on Sunday in a match that intrigues and excites despite the sides sitting 10th and 13th on the ladder. That's what winning can do. It can transform a game between two teams who were flat out beating a drum not long ago into the people's match of the round.

If that sounds stupid, it's probably because it kind of is. Both teams enter this game on two-match winning streaks, both secured in dramatic fashion, but it would still take a brave or foolish fan to say either of them is finals material.

Parramatta's clash with North Queensland in Darwin will likely have a far greater bearing on the race for the premiership. It will likely be of higher quality than Dragons-Tigers.

But in Dragons-Tigers, we see the hidden truth of rugby league – the quality of the play or the calibre of the teams involved isn't as important as how the game makes you feel, because perfectly executed football and football that lives on in your heart are not always the same thing.

Most of us don't know what it's like to have greatness on our side every week. Only a precious few fans know