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Ivan Cleary's edict to Wests Tigers before shock win: Be the player your teammates want to play with
Michael Chammas - SMH
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"Be the player your teammates want to play with."
Those were the last words the Wests Tigers heard from coach Ivan Cleary before they ran out and produced the upset of the season against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night.
It was obvious to Cleary that massive changes are required to turn around the fortunes of the Wests Tigers, however his decision to hold off on revolutionising the style of football at the club has been described as "genius" by Elijah Taylor.
Whatever the Tigers practised under former coach Jason Taylor, they did it in Cleary's first week at the helm.
The only difference was his ability to get the players to buy into his philosophy regarding the never-say-die mindset he has instilled at his two previous clubs.
"We have talked about the one-percenters in the past but it's something Ivan puts his hats on - those extra efforts off the ball," Taylor said.
"Working for your teammate and being the teammate that other players want to play with. He asked us that last night before we ran out. Be the player that other players want to be inspired by and want to play with. It was so simple. He didn't come in and say do this, do this, tackle like this, attack like this. He did none of that.
"That's genius. Especially when you're in round six and we've done a full pre-season under another coach … Credit to Ivan - he could have come in and changed everything. He's been watching. He tinkered a few little things - but mainly between the ears and defensive attitude."
While the Tigers weren't pretty, especially throughout an error-riddled second half, they showed the type of fight that hasn't been synonymous with the club in many years.
"He just wanted to alter our defence and our mindset. He laid down some challenges for us last night and I think we met those challenges.
"Off-the-ball efforts, one-percenter efforts. You hear a lot of footballers talk about the one-percenters. He's massive on that. Ninety per cent of the game you're doing things off the ball. Things you don't see on TV but they mean so much. All those little things add up to a victory. It shows his experience."
Michael Chammas - SMH
\
\
"Be the player your teammates want to play with."
Those were the last words the Wests Tigers heard from coach Ivan Cleary before they ran out and produced the upset of the season against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night.
It was obvious to Cleary that massive changes are required to turn around the fortunes of the Wests Tigers, however his decision to hold off on revolutionising the style of football at the club has been described as "genius" by Elijah Taylor.
Whatever the Tigers practised under former coach Jason Taylor, they did it in Cleary's first week at the helm.
The only difference was his ability to get the players to buy into his philosophy regarding the never-say-die mindset he has instilled at his two previous clubs.
"We have talked about the one-percenters in the past but it's something Ivan puts his hats on - those extra efforts off the ball," Taylor said.
"Working for your teammate and being the teammate that other players want to play with. He asked us that last night before we ran out. Be the player that other players want to be inspired by and want to play with. It was so simple. He didn't come in and say do this, do this, tackle like this, attack like this. He did none of that.
"That's genius. Especially when you're in round six and we've done a full pre-season under another coach … Credit to Ivan - he could have come in and changed everything. He's been watching. He tinkered a few little things - but mainly between the ears and defensive attitude."
While the Tigers weren't pretty, especially throughout an error-riddled second half, they showed the type of fight that hasn't been synonymous with the club in many years.
"He just wanted to alter our defence and our mindset. He laid down some challenges for us last night and I think we met those challenges.
"Off-the-ball efforts, one-percenter efforts. You hear a lot of footballers talk about the one-percenters. He's massive on that. Ninety per cent of the game you're doing things off the ball. Things you don't see on TV but they mean so much. All those little things add up to a victory. It shows his experience."
