Key appointments aim to end Tigers mess

[frullens]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/opinion/phil-rothfield/phil-rothfield-how-wests-tigers-plan-to-dig-out-of-current-slump/news-story/9443ccaef7863cc4844054a2291194c0

 

[yeahcaz]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/opinion/phil-rothfield/phil-rothfield-how-wests-tigers-plan-to-dig-out-of-current-slump/news-story/9443ccaef7863cc4844054a2291194c0

Anyone have access ?

 

[WT2K]

https://t.co/jNyps2m9XJ

Can't read the whole thing if anyone wants to post


Phil Rothfield: How Wests Tigers plan to dig out of current slump

The Tigers are coming off a shameful loss, but the club is manoeuvring to ensure it doesn’t happen again, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

NRL: The Melbourne Storm have scored 12 tries and beaten the West Tigers by a 50 point margin in their round 15 clash at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Michael Maguire will not be sacked and there are no crisis meetings happening at the Wests Tigers despite one of the most shameful performances in the club’s history over the weekend.

As much as the club is embarrassed and ashamed by the 66-16 defeat to Melbourne Storm on the Sunshine Coast, chairman Lee Hagipantelis insists the coaching role is not even being discussed.

“I’m embarrassed personally and I’m embarrassed for the club and our fans,” Hagipantelis told News Corp.

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“Look, 66 points is embarrassing. You can’t sugar coat it and no one is shirking away from it. It’s just embarrassing. Effort, attitude and a combination of things.

“It’s beyond my level of rugby league expertise to tell you how and why it happened. But we understand the pain that our fans are feeling.”

The Wests Tigers boss was on the Sunshine Coast for the game. He spoke to Maguire on Sunday morning about the performance.

“We were taught a really tough lesson by the preeminent team in the competition,” he said.

“That’s the standard we aspire to. Given our more recent performances, this result was inexplicable and difficult to accept. The players own it and the club owns it. We’re all hurting.

“We’re striving for consistency from top to bottom. There has erratic form across the competition, not just from us. Melbourne also put 50 on Souths a few weeks ago.”

Saturday night was the equal most points conceded by Wests Tigers. They lost 66-12 to the Eels way back in 2001.

They were so bad in the first half that Maguire refused to address the team at half-time.

There was nothing he could say.

This is a club that has no choice but to play a patient game.

They won’t be winning comps any time soon and the fans have to accept that.

Dare I say it but a ‘five-year-plan’ is what’s needed, just like the Panthers.

They have the longest finals drought in the NRL, having not played in the semis for 10 years.

Yet two great men are soon to arrive in four-time premiership coach Tim Sheens and former halfback champion Brett Kimmorley.

This will fix the area of recruitment where this club has been found wanting for too long.

The days of paying $800,000 for bum players are over.

**Sheens and Kimmorley will reopen the pipeline and pathways from Campbelltown to ensure the next Israel Folau, James Tedesco or Jarryd Hayne is wearing their jersey.**

 

[Tcat]

I thought he knew something we didn't know.

 

[gallagher]

We're on the wrong path when that bloke thinks we're doing well.

 

[Tim Sheens]

So he thinks we are keeping the coach that has the team at one of the worst points in it's history and we are going to support this failure as the club plods along for another few years. YIPPEE!

 

[rihannafan1]

I'm just shocked to see so many journos being nice to us. What's going on here?

 

[old_man_tiger]

I'm just shocked to see so many journos being nice to us. What's going on here?

Our of desperation our management have reopened channels into sewers that were best left sealed. I can't call them inept because I don't know all the details, but in a debate I would prefer to argue for a statement like "Tigers are desperate ", rather than against.

 

[Bigscreentv]

If I was to pick our biggest problem (and there's a truckload of them), is that we don't seem to sign players on character.

Most players who debut in first grade have the athletic talent to be there - what the most successful players have is character, mental toughness etc

My biggest criticism of Madge is the inconsistency of his media comments and his actions..."we need to be mentally tougher" or "it's not what our club. Is about"...then he goes off and signs James Roberts and we fold under any situation that requires a bit of reslience.

Say what you want about Sheen's, but he always signed and developed players with character. Chris Laurence, Dean Halatau, Chris Heinington...all tough as nails and good guys. Even Benji Marshall - who some don't give him the time of day here - is a stand up guy for the most part and was always up for a challenge....and who knows, maybe Benji, Matheson and Aloai were right? Maybe the club is in a heap and the problem is a lack of character?

At least we know Sheens knows what character looks like and how to develop it. After the last couple of years, I feel like Madge doesn't.

 

[wet tiger coloured bird]

i was screaming murder when easan masters was put on goal kicking which lose us so many games (he chokes on even the easiest kicks). then douhie was a full back, so slow that gillard was able to out run him for a try. then talau always makes errors every game. i'm just a nobody but maquire should be in the know. other teams have the luxury to drop a player and bring in someone better. unfortunately we can't drop anyone we don't have any ammunition left. he have to keep using the dodgy bullets every week. even if we get a head high tackle we don't have anyone to go in as a free interchange.

 

[jrtiger]

two appointments made specifically for our pathways are going to remedy our issues in first grade?? put the flask away Buzz

 

[TigerTone]

I'm just shocked to see so many journos being nice to us. What's going on here?

This is where i think our players did it for the Mark Hughes Foundation. Each try was a sum of money towards the foundation.
There really is no other explanation. Why else would they all be so nice to us? :joy: :joy: :joy: :joy: :joy:

 

[jirskyr]

two appointments made specifically for our pathways are going to remedy our issues in first grade?? put the flask away Buzz

In about 5-10 years, when his cirrhosis has ended him.

 

[Bk210]

Saturday night was the equal most points conceded by Wests Tigers. They lost 66-12 to the Eels way back in 2001.

Equal most conceded, but not the biggest loss.
0-64 V Melbourne Storm, 2001.
6-64 V Cowboys, 2014.
0-56 Roosters, 2004.

 

[kiwitiger]

Woo-hoo a five year plan! Yeah baby! 5 more years! Just the comment I want to read on a Monday.

 

[innsaneink]

Clickbait substancelesss Rothfield garbage

 

[Don Kershane]

The NRL 360 viewer and DT circulation numbers must be on the slide due to the lopsided competition. Who wants to watch and read about a weekend flogging (not only us}? Hence there is minimal value (business wise)in people like our esteemed journalists banging on about the performances of the lesser lights given that half the competition is in that category.

 

[tony soprano]

Does this mean hartigan will be sacked?

 

[twentyforty]

The NRL 360 viewer and DT circulation numbers must be on the slide due to the lopsided competition. Who wants to watch and read about a weekend flogging (not only us}? Hence there is minimal value (business wise)in people like our esteemed journalists banging on about the performances of the lesser lights given that half the competition is in that category.

Yep, slightly more than half. It’s a real issue. It can do what Covid couldn’t.

 

[happy_tiger]

Woo-hoo a five year plan! Yeah baby! 5 more years! Just the comment I want to read on a Monday.

Is this our 5th 5 year plan