‘It’s the truth’: compelling new WT doco

[TigerTownSFS]

The team lacks leaders. Blind Freddy can see this is a huge huge problem. Or captain, highest paid player (mbye) and our halfback are not leaders. Neither are the “experienced” players we have brought in (BJ, JTJ). Douhie, Laurie and maybe Joffa fit the mould but the club has really let themselves down in getting the balance of the squad right. Hopefully Hastings and a few other leaders are on their way

 

[TigerSJ]

In the last couple of years we have lost a lot of experience and leadership with Benji, Farrah and Lawrence going. Also we lost some effort players in ET and Thomson. I suppose the signings of Tamou, JTJ and BJ were made with experience in mind, but they just haven't worked out well for us at all. We find ourselves with a a big void in the leadership area and a disconnect between the coaching messages and the playing group being able to deliver what is expected in each game.
As I have said before, in order to improve we must enlist players that are "true competitors" and who will lead by example on the field. I believe if we can cut our off contract guys, plus Mbye, and we can fill these spots with players that have the right character and qualities, it will make a huge difference to our performance.

 

[Moh]

Denan Kemp of bloke in a bar fame has said numerous times he doesn’t agree completely with Maguires coaching style

Kemp very often alluded to him not liking the way Madge coaches - the only player from the Tigers that probably is mates-y with him is Nofa.

That's about the most insight Kemp has on Madge.

 

[innsaneink]

Haven't watched episode 2, but wondering how you improve harmony in the team with cameras everywhere and editing that basically shows the players to be mostly gutless.

I think this is good entertainment but potentially destructive for a struggling club with a lot of young players. I hope what I've read about individual players being singled out, young players with no experience, has been exaggerated here.

I can't believe I haven't watched it but the thought of having to watch this season again makes me want to roll into a ball and rock back and forth.

I find most comments here have been exaggerated
I've read the comments first before viewe both episodes.
We're only seeing a fraction and what we are seeing is highly edited for a reason... To make it interesting/dramatic/entertaining

 

[twentyforty]

Haven't watched episode 2, but wondering how you improve harmony in the team with cameras everywhere and editing that basically shows the players to be mostly gutless.

I think this is good entertainment but potentially destructive for a struggling club with a lot of young players. I hope what I've read about individual players being singled out, young players with no experience, has been exaggerated here.

I can't believe I haven't watched it but the thought of having to watch this season again makes me want to roll into a ball and rock back and forth.

I find most comments here have been exaggerated
I've read the comments first before viewe both episodes.
We're only seeing a fraction and what we are seeing is highly edited for a reason... To make it interesting/dramatic/entertaining

It appears Madge has the lead role because of his ability in those 3 key areas, but in order to crank up the interest meter us fans would like to see some more interaction between players. The support cast need to be more involved.

 

[TigerWest]

At least Madge seems to understand what many of us speak about, a lot of the players don't seem to be putting in?
Sacking them is the only way to fix imo, but that wont/can't happen quickly?

 

[old_man_tiger]

Haven't watched episode 2, but wondering how you improve harmony in the team with cameras everywhere and editing that basically shows the players to be mostly gutless.

I think this is good entertainment but potentially destructive for a struggling club with a lot of young players. I hope what I've read about individual players being singled out, young players with no experience, has been exaggerated here.

I can't believe I haven't watched it but the thought of having to watch this season again makes me want to roll into a ball and rock back and forth.

I find most comments here have been exaggerated
I've read the comments first before viewe both episodes.
We're only seeing a fraction and what we are seeing is highly edited for a reason... To make it interesting/dramatic/entertaining

Thanks Ink, I'll psych myself into watching it

 

[Depressed]

I love the way the doco’s got my partner and daughter more interested in the tigers, they are loving it.

 

[mike]

Just remember everybody that you are seeing a highly edited view of the Wests Tigers, the directors view. You are seeing what the director thinks will sell, not what is actually going on. So of course you are going to see all the emotional outbursts, that’s what sells reality TV. You are not going to get to see the minutiae of what the club is doing.

 

[cochise]

Just remember everybody that you are seeing a highly edited view of the Wests Tigers, the directors view. You are seeing what the director thinks will sell, not what is actually going on. So of course you are going to see all the emotional outbursts, that’s what sells reality TV. You are not going to get to see the minutiae of what the club is doing.

That is the disappointing part for me, a lot of the really interesting things were filmed, recruitment meetings, video sessions etc. These have so far been excluded and what we have been left with is a youtube reactions video. I have enjoyed watching it, but do not really believe it is that behind the scenes look at the club we were hoping for. I have already lived and felt those games, so the format of the show has lost buy in from the audience in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

Footy legends concerned by lack of player leadership at Wests Tigers
A new documentary has shed new light on the Wests Tigers dressing room, and some footy legends have noticed a concerning trend.

Matthew Sullivan
AUGUST 11, 202110:02PM

Balmain legends Benny Elias and Steve Roach have slammed the lack of leadership among the Wests Tigers’ playing group at the moment.

The Tigers have struggled this season but remain in the hunt for finals, needing to win at least three out of the last four games of the season to have any chance of securing a spot in the top eight.

A new documentary series produced by Fox Sports and Kayo — Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town — has shed new light on the Tigers tumultuous season with fly-on-the-wall footage in the Tigers’ dressing room and coach’s box.

And after the second episode aired on Monday night, featuring a string of mid-season losses and a sole win over St George Illawarra, experts have noticed a glaring issue with the Tigers.

Coach Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire is constantly seen trying to rev up his players with motivational speeches in the sheds before the game and at halftime.

More often than not, each match ends with him tearing shreds off his troops for their lacklustre performances and for showing a lack of intent and determination on the field.

But Elias, who was part of the legendary Balmain Tigers side in the 1980s and early 1990s, believes more leadership should be coming from the players instead of the coach.

“On game day, I’m a little bit surprised at how much the coach needs to speak because I think you do all your speaking and hard work Monday to Friday and on match day, you turn up and you really don’t need any more,” he told Fox League’s NRL 360.

“To see him go down and use the microphone so often has really surprised me because as a player, all I need is my mate Blocker (Roach) or Junior (Wayne Pearce) or Siro (Paul Sironen) or my teammates whisper: ‘BE I’m going to be on your left or right hand side, my shoulder’s no good, please protect me’ and that was it.

“The speeches at halftime or before the game — if you’re not prepared and you need to be motivated, you’re in trouble.

“The way Madge the coach talks, is the way the players should be feeling and believing and acting.

“He’s the one that has the passion. He’s the one that’s ready to go out on the paddock and rip shreds off the opposition.

“That is the impact of the coach, but it should really be the player having that attitude.

“I was fortunate to be coached by some great coaches — Gus Gould, Warren Ryan, Bob Fulton, Jack Gibson — they never screamed.”

NRL 360 host Paul Kent agreed the Tigers are desperate for a player to take responsibility and take some of the burden off Maguire’s shoulders.

“Michael Maguire is the lone voice in that dressing room because they’re crying out for leaders, for blokes to stand up and be men and commit themselves,” he said.

Roach said in his playing days, he received feedback best when it came from a teammate, but the Tigers are lacking a leader within the playing group.

“When I was playing … honestly, I didn’t hear anything the coach said at halftime,” he said.

“Yelling and screaming, I’m telling you, it doesn’t work.

“You need leaders. James Tamou — at the back end of his career, I hear him in the media saying, ‘I’m going to get in there and tell them what to do’, but the poor bloke didn’t get to do it (in the win against the Bulldogs).

“He didn’t play in the first half, he played five or six minutes in the second half.

“So if that’s your leader and that’s the person leading the way — trying to tell you what we should be doing next, the next job, all that sort of stuff — you’re in trouble, because he’s not on the field.”

Maguire’s expletive-filled speeches in the documentary after losses to the Cowboys and Titans didn’t go unnoticed by Newcastle Knights legend Matty Johns either.

“What struck me — and it’s a huge problem for Madge and the Wests Tigers — it’s the lack of a really strong standout leader in their playing ranks,” he told The Matty Johns podcast.

“Because when you have at least one strong leader in the playing ranks, the coach has to do less talking.

“What you see in the sheds at halftime and before the games is just Madge talking.

“Madge has got to fill the void. No one standing up in the playing ranks laying down the law.

“If there isn’t a strong leader among the players then the coach has to do 90 per cent of the talking and that’s what burns players out.”

 

[barra]

Re above quoting Elias and Blocker, Matty Johns saying the same thing. The best teams share the talking, the coach doesn't have to try to do it all, instead a lot of the hard words come from the leaders in the team. This is becoming more and more obvious that we don't have such leadership in the playing ranks.
Johns actually said Mal Reilly would only do about 25% of the talking in the sheds. So when he did say something it was important and had an effect.

 

[cktiger]

Footy legends concerned by lack of player leadership at Wests Tigers
A new documentary has shed new light on the Wests Tigers dressing room, and some footy legends have noticed a concerning trend.

Matthew Sullivan
AUGUST 11, 202110:02PM

Balmain legends Benny Elias and Steve Roach have slammed the lack of leadership among the Wests Tigers’ playing group at the moment.

The Tigers have struggled this season but remain in the hunt for finals, needing to win at least three out of the last four games of the season to have any chance of securing a spot in the top eight.

A new documentary series produced by Fox Sports and Kayo — Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town — has shed new light on the Tigers tumultuous season with fly-on-the-wall footage in the Tigers’ dressing room and coach’s box.

And after the second episode aired on Monday night, featuring a string of mid-season losses and a sole win over St George Illawarra, experts have noticed a glaring issue with the Tigers.

Coach Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire is constantly seen trying to rev up his players with motivational speeches in the sheds before the game and at halftime.

More often than not, each match ends with him tearing shreds off his troops for their lacklustre performances and for showing a lack of intent and determination on the field.

But Elias, who was part of the legendary Balmain Tigers side in the 1980s and early 1990s, believes more leadership should be coming from the players instead of the coach.

“On game day, I’m a little bit surprised at how much the coach needs to speak because I think you do all your speaking and hard work Monday to Friday and on match day, you turn up and you really don’t need any more,” he told Fox League’s NRL 360.

“To see him go down and use the microphone so often has really surprised me because as a player, all I need is my mate Blocker (Roach) or Junior (Wayne Pearce) or Siro (Paul Sironen) or my teammates whisper: ‘BE I’m going to be on your left or right hand side, my shoulder’s no good, please protect me’ and that was it.

“The speeches at halftime or before the game — if you’re not prepared and you need to be motivated, you’re in trouble.

“The way Madge the coach talks, is the way the players should be feeling and believing and acting.

“He’s the one that has the passion. He’s the one that’s ready to go out on the paddock and rip shreds off the opposition.

“That is the impact of the coach, but it should really be the player having that attitude.

“I was fortunate to be coached by some great coaches — Gus Gould, Warren Ryan, Bob Fulton, Jack Gibson — they never screamed.”

NRL 360 host Paul Kent agreed the Tigers are desperate for a player to take responsibility and take some of the burden off Maguire’s shoulders.

“Michael Maguire is the lone voice in that dressing room because they’re crying out for leaders, for blokes to stand up and be men and commit themselves,” he said.

Roach said in his playing days, he received feedback best when it came from a teammate, but the Tigers are lacking a leader within the playing group.

“When I was playing … honestly, I didn’t hear anything the coach said at halftime,” he said.

“Yelling and screaming, I’m telling you, it doesn’t work.

“You need leaders. James Tamou — at the back end of his career, I hear him in the media saying, ‘I’m going to get in there and tell them what to do’, but the poor bloke didn’t get to do it (in the win against the Bulldogs).

“He didn’t play in the first half, he played five or six minutes in the second half.

“So if that’s your leader and that’s the person leading the way — trying to tell you what we should be doing next, the next job, all that sort of stuff — you’re in trouble, because he’s not on the field.”

Maguire’s expletive-filled speeches in the documentary after losses to the Cowboys and Titans didn’t go unnoticed by Newcastle Knights legend Matty Johns either.

“What struck me — and it’s a huge problem for Madge and the Wests Tigers — it’s the lack of a really strong standout leader in their playing ranks,” he told The Matty Johns podcast.

“Because when you have at least one strong leader in the playing ranks, the coach has to do less talking.

“What you see in the sheds at halftime and before the games is just Madge talking.

“Madge has got to fill the void. No one standing up in the playing ranks laying down the law.

“**If there isn’t a strong leader among the players** then the coach has to do 90 per cent of the talking and that’s what burns players out.”

I get the feeling that Doueihi will eventually be the bloke who puts it to his team mates, but at this stage maybe thinks it isn't his place to do so in the dressing room.
Different matter on field in the heat of battle where he is comfortable doing it.

 

[cqtiger]

I have only seen the first episode and I have read comments from Tiger fans about how they love Madge’s passion. For me initially it was ok to watch and listen to Madge being passionate in this way but after a while it became just noise.

I know these were hand picked highlights of hours and hours of recordings but how on earth Madge can think that swearing and yelling at players so often is motivational is beyond me.

After a poor first half I can just hear the players walking off together and saying to each other “guess we’ll cop another ear full in a minute”.

If you want to rant and rave to get your point across you’ve missed your calling by 50 years.

 

[hobbo1]

Just remember everybody that you are seeing a highly edited view of the Wests Tigers, the directors view. You are seeing what the director thinks will sell, not what is actually going on. So of course you are going to see all the emotional outbursts, that’s what sells reality TV. You are not going to get to see the minutiae of what the club is doing.

That is the disappointing part for me, a lot of the really interesting things were filmed, recruitment meetings, video sessions etc. These have so far been excluded and what we have been left with is a youtube reactions video. I have enjoyed watching it, but do not really believe it is that behind the scenes look at the club we were hoping for. I have already lived and felt those games, so the format of the show has lost buy in from the audience in my opinion.

Yeah it’s the same shit same rants ..

 

[innsaneink]

Haven't watched episode 2, but wondering how you improve harmony in the team with cameras everywhere and editing that basically shows the players to be mostly gutless.

I think this is good entertainment but potentially destructive for a struggling club with a lot of young players. I hope what I've read about individual players being singled out, young players with no experience, has been exaggerated here.

I can't believe I haven't watched it but the thought of having to watch this season again makes me want to roll into a ball and rock back and forth.

I find most comments here have been exaggerated
I've read the comments first before viewe both episodes.
We're only seeing a fraction and what we are seeing is highly edited for a reason... To make it interesting/dramatic/entertaining

Thanks Ink, I'll psych myself into watching it

Interested to hear what you think

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Footy legends concerned by lack of player leadership at Wests Tigers
A new documentary has shed new light on the Wests Tigers dressing room, and some footy legends have noticed a concerning trend.

Matthew Sullivan
AUGUST 11, 202110:02PM

Balmain legends Benny Elias and Steve Roach have slammed the lack of leadership among the Wests Tigers’ playing group at the moment.

The Tigers have struggled this season but remain in the hunt for finals, needing to win at least three out of the last four games of the season to have any chance of securing a spot in the top eight.

A new documentary series produced by Fox Sports and Kayo — Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town — has shed new light on the Tigers tumultuous season with fly-on-the-wall footage in the Tigers’ dressing room and coach’s box.

And after the second episode aired on Monday night, featuring a string of mid-season losses and a sole win over St George Illawarra, experts have noticed a glaring issue with the Tigers.

Coach Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire is constantly seen trying to rev up his players with motivational speeches in the sheds before the game and at halftime.

More often than not, each match ends with him tearing shreds off his troops for their lacklustre performances and for showing a lack of intent and determination on the field.

But Elias, who was part of the legendary Balmain Tigers side in the 1980s and early 1990s, believes more leadership should be coming from the players instead of the coach.

“On game day, I’m a little bit surprised at how much the coach needs to speak because I think you do all your speaking and hard work Monday to Friday and on match day, you turn up and you really don’t need any more,” he told Fox League’s NRL 360.

“To see him go down and use the microphone so often has really surprised me because as a player, all I need is my mate Blocker (Roach) or Junior (Wayne Pearce) or Siro (Paul Sironen) or my teammates whisper: ‘BE I’m going to be on your left or right hand side, my shoulder’s no good, please protect me’ and that was it.

“The speeches at halftime or before the game — if you’re not prepared and you need to be motivated, you’re in trouble.

“The way Madge the coach talks, is the way the players should be feeling and believing and acting.

“He’s the one that has the passion. He’s the one that’s ready to go out on the paddock and rip shreds off the opposition.

“That is the impact of the coach, but it should really be the player having that attitude.

“I was fortunate to be coached by some great coaches — Gus Gould, Warren Ryan, Bob Fulton, Jack Gibson — they never screamed.”

NRL 360 host Paul Kent agreed the Tigers are desperate for a player to take responsibility and take some of the burden off Maguire’s shoulders.

“Michael Maguire is the lone voice in that dressing room because they’re crying out for leaders, for blokes to stand up and be men and commit themselves,” he said.

Roach said in his playing days, he received feedback best when it came from a teammate, but the Tigers are lacking a leader within the playing group.

“When I was playing … honestly, I didn’t hear anything the coach said at halftime,” he said.

“Yelling and screaming, I’m telling you, it doesn’t work.

“You need leaders. James Tamou — at the back end of his career, I hear him in the media saying, ‘I’m going to get in there and tell them what to do’, but the poor bloke didn’t get to do it (in the win against the Bulldogs).

“He didn’t play in the first half, he played five or six minutes in the second half.

“So if that’s your leader and that’s the person leading the way — trying to tell you what we should be doing next, the next job, all that sort of stuff — you’re in trouble, because he’s not on the field.”

Maguire’s expletive-filled speeches in the documentary after losses to the Cowboys and Titans didn’t go unnoticed by Newcastle Knights legend Matty Johns either.

“What struck me — and it’s a huge problem for Madge and the Wests Tigers — it’s the lack of a really strong standout leader in their playing ranks,” he told The Matty Johns podcast.

“Because when you have at least one strong leader in the playing ranks, the coach has to do less talking.

“What you see in the sheds at halftime and before the games is just Madge talking.

“Madge has got to fill the void. No one standing up in the playing ranks laying down the law.

“**If there isn’t a strong leader among the players** then the coach has to do 90 per cent of the talking and that’s what burns players out.”

I get the feeling that Doueihi will eventually be the bloke who puts it to his team mates, but at this stage maybe thinks it isn't his place to do so in the dressing room.
Different matter on field in the heat of battle where he is comfortable doing it.

I think Douhie and Hastings will be the two who hammer the players about buy in and commitment etc

 

[TigerNeddyK]

I love the way the doco’s got my partner and daughter more interested in the tigers, they are loving it.

Do they think it is a Sitcom? Or have you had to come clean and explain this is the behind the scenes look at the team you love and support that does your head in every week? 😅😂

 

[Depressed]

I love the way the doco’s got my partner and daughter more interested in the tigers, they are loving it.

Do they think it is a Sitcom? Or have you had to come clean and explain this is the behind the scenes look at the team you love and support that does your head in every week? ??

For sure ?

The show if nothing else shows people the drama that you go through supporting this team.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Haven't watched episode 2, but wondering how you improve harmony in the team with cameras everywhere and editing that basically shows the players to be mostly gutless.

I think this is good entertainment but potentially destructive for a struggling club with a lot of young players. I hope what I've read about individual players being singled out, young players with no experience, has been exaggerated here.

I can't believe I haven't watched it but the thought of having to watch this season again makes me want to roll into a ball and rock back and forth.

I find most comments here have been exaggerated
I've read the comments first before viewe both episodes.
We're only seeing a fraction and what we are seeing is highly edited for a reason... To make it interesting/dramatic/entertaining

Thanks Ink, I'll psych myself into watching it

Interested to hear what you think

It'll probably just be a useless rant, that's just where I'm at with the club these days.