2012 - A SMARTER WESTS TIGERS???

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alien

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I have no doubt that in 2010 and 2011 Wests Tigers had a squad talented enough to win the competition but they didn't play the game smart enough. If Wests Tigers are to win the competition in 2012 they are going to have to play the game smarter. They need to learn that you don't always play the game the same way towards the end of the match as you would earlier in the match, especially when you have a lead or when the score is equal. When we played the Sydney Roosters in the 2010 Finals the Roosters won that scrum against the feed towards the end of normal time. If Heighington dropped on the ball from that scrum instead of trying that play where we try to catch the defense offside then we would have won. We would have beaten the Warriors in this year's Finals if we kicked the ball on the last tackle instead of running it on the last, when we already had the lead & when it was almost full-time. It should have been kicked down field, preferably in the corner followed by a good chase. Instead we stuffed up and gave the Warriors good field position which they took advantage of. Also in the 2010 Finals against the Roosters we would have scored an extra try if Benji didn't start punching Pearce. We could have beaten the St. George Illawarra in last year's Finals if Benji didn't kick out on the full towards the end of the match. I love our players but I hope they learn from these silly mistakes because I honestly feel we were so close last year and this year to winning the comp and a few silly errors is all it takes for all the good work to go to waste.
 
Good points Alien. WTs 'smartness' would be greatly aided by a halfback who can lead the team around. I'm not blaming Lui for any loss as it must be difficult with players like Farah and Marshall in the team. The points you have raised point to a lack of someone who can point the team in the right direction when needed during the crucial times. Short term pain leading to long term gain so a half who overrules Farah and Marshall (sensibly) will be offside with them in the short term but they will thank him later.
 
Well said Alien. I think one of the things that everyone loves about the Tigers is their unpredictability but that needs to be tempered towards the end of a match when we need to hold onto a lead. Also agree with Cunno that a good halfback would go a long way to solving the problem - one who had the maturity, experience and authority to overrule Benji and Robbie when necessary. Unfortunately, there aren't any of them in the wings for the Tiges.
 
Marshall and Farah are the two key playmakers. They are both old enough and experienced enough to use their football brains and lead the team when it comes to crucial plays. They both need to stand up in this area.
 
Yes, agree with the comments on this although I can't find issue with say Marshall kicking out on the full as it was a poor execution not a poor decision. There were a few poor decisions against the Warriors like running it on the last against the Warriors (even Gus said at the start of the set that all they had to do was execute a good set and get to the kick!) and others.

Decisions by our playmakers always go a long way to deciding WT games and it would be good to get the right balance… but whether or not that happens is anyones guess!
 
I think Farah started in that direction late in the season as his decision making improved out of site compared to the first half of the year. If this continues in the same vein next season we may be ok.
 
This was pointed out on the Sunday Footy show, but Freddy put them in their place by stating: it is these plays that got them to the finals in the first place. I agree with him. Bugger the others, I love the roller coaster that is "The Weststigers" They know what they should do, but just can't help themselves. Personally, I love them the way they are - win or lose. I stood there last Friday night applauding their efforts, as they went up the tunnel at fulltime. Most of the supporters were so dejected, not me, great game.
 
Claws, I love the style that the Tigers play as well and I wouldn't swap it for another playing style in the world. But there's a time and a place for the razzle dazzle just as there is a time for the smart play to seal the game.

But would you still applaud the choice of running on the last with mere minutes to play with 2 the difference, effectively costing us the game, if it were the GF?
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Players can not change during games as the style of play is a reflection of the teams personality, which is a reflection on the coaches style, which is a reflection of the players style. That is why when players are purchased the organization will say "he will bring this or that to the organization". People on this forum say "he will be a good fit or he won't be a good fit because:

Pick most players in the comp and you will predict what their strengths are. All the players know what their opponents strength is, but the opponent will at sometime during the game achieve through that strength. Our play makers are unpredictable, I accept this. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Roll on 2012, Love the Weststigers!
 
We will get away with "our" style of play against the average sides but not against good sides. One thing we need to work on is getting repeat sets. I remember our game against Manly at Blue Tongue Stadium when we come from behind to win. We scored some amazing tries but we starved Manly from the ball in the 2nd half with so many line drop outs and repeat sets. If we played like that against the Warriors we win. I also remember when we played the Warriors in NZ in that miracle come from behind win we were leading by 2 with seconds on the clock and Benji threw a wayward pass on our tryline. He was interviewed after the game and was asked something along the lines of "what made you throw that pass" and his reply was "I thought we could win by 8".
 
Claws, I accept that the risky style of play is one of the teams strengths and deffknarely one of Benji's, but there is always room for improvement in every players game. One area that we need to improve in is knowing when to play percentages and when to roll the dice.

Sheens, the players and the fans love the razzle dazzle but if that game against the Warriors was a Grand Final and it played out how it did, shit would hit the fan and no one would say "good on the boys for rolling the dice".

It was a very low percentage play and when your 2 infront in the dying minutes, you just can't take risks as large as that.
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Alien Totally agree mate
But they have needed to play smarter for the last six seasons and nothing has changed really
We keep getting better and better playing rosters and but to no avail
No excuses in 2012
If things don't change something will have to change
 
I don't think those of us wanting a smarter WT are saying they should change their playing style or their 'personality'. Of course we love the unpredictable nature of the teams playmakers.

I am only suggesting the one or two low percentage decisions at really important times to be tempered. As '91 has rightfully pointed out, that would include running it on the last in the Warriors game. There was really nothing on and nothing planned - that's the difference. Both Robbie and Benji made a wrong decision.
 
agreed… Its my biggest question mark over both Farah and Benji as being leaders. The good leaders know when to slow a game, and when to speed a game up. The 'flashy' teams will always end up losing in the end to the more disciplined teams who know how to do this.

This will be the next step in the development of Benji Marshall becoming a true superstar of the game!
 
Instead of looking for a half that will be able to play 'smartly' when Benji is trying his razzle dazzle plays, could we look to maybe have our own Geoff Toovey or Alfy Langer running with a water bottle? As much as these guys send me nuts when watching the game, someone who can be on the field and keep talking to the playmakers might be what we need to settle them down.
 
I've always been told that a footy player should continuously learning throughout their career and once they have stopped learning then it's time to hang up the boots! Our boys obviously play a very low percentage style of football that takes a high skill set to pull off, and we have the players that can execute these kind of plays. But a this kind of play means that there is also a higher risk that a mistake is made. Our play makers need to know when its necessary to use this style and when its time to maybe curb it back a bit to play a smarter style of football. Benji himself has always said that he is continuously learning and trying to eliminate these said errors out of his game so i'm sure he will be working on this during the off season again. This will ultimately be the difference between him being a freakish player remembered for his razzle dazzle and a player that will be the next immortal after Lockyer in decades to come.
 
Well either our core playing roster or coaching roster Alien as much as I love it
These guys are accountable for their results good or bad
 
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