The Tigers side were without many of the players from their grand final victory with notable absentees being Benji Marshall and Pat Richards.
Trial Results v Combined Group 4 W 64-4 at Gunnedah (A) v Bradford Bulls (Eng) L 10-30 at Huddersfield (A) v Manly L 18-42 at Brookvale (A) A series of close losses and a long list of injuries stymied the Tigers bid to defend their NRL premiership.
In the second game at Campbelltown the Daily Telegraph published a photograph showing Canberra players several metres offside which should have warranted a penalty.
In the first game Tigers forward Todd Payten was penalised for a ball stripping offence with there being some debate whether a second player was involved.
Captain and fullback Brett Hodgson missed the latter part of the season and Paul Whatuira also suffered long term injuries.
Not helping their cause was the sin binning of centre Paul Whatuira in the 35th minute for a professional foul on Cowboys' Justin Smith.
Brett Hodgson, playing in one of his finest games, broke the point-scoring record previously held by Joel Caine.
They led 12-10 with moments to go until a Matt Orford banana kick was fielded by full-back Brett Stewart who juggled the ball and scored the match-winning try.
Round 21, v Broncos Heading into this game as huge underdogs, the Wests Tigers arrived at Suncorp Stadium and were without skipper Hodgson, five-eighth Marshall, centre Whatuira (who reinjured his hamstring during training), and forwards Gibbs and Fulton.
Among those who played their last games in the Tigers colours included Anthony Laffranchi and Scott Prince (both Gold Coast Titans), John Skandalis and Shane Elford (both Huddersfield Giants).