Media Reports

[Guest]

WESTS TIGERS LOSE 18-14 TO BRISBANE IN NRL
By Wayne Cousins
6/04/2012 9:29:21 PM

Wests Tigers suffered an 18-14 loss to Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium tonight in round 6 of the Telstra Premiership.

It was the fifth straight loss for Wests Tigers who look set to be without workhorse forward Chris Heighington for an extended period after he left the field with a suspected broken left hand before half-time.

The task of pulling in the Broncos was made even more difficult when young prop Matt Groat failed to return for the second half after suffering concussion from a high by Ben Te’o late in the first half that was placed on report.

As gutsy and as hard as the Wests Tigers tried in the 2nd half, the task of playing with just two interchanges told despite a much improved commitment in defence to stop several Brisbane attacking raids.

Having welcomed back Test prop Keith Galloway from a toe injury and hooker and captain Robbie Farah from suspension, Wests Tigers started strongly with their first real attacking raid coming off a brilliant inside pass by five-eighth Benji Marshall saw full-back Tim Moltzen race 40 metres before being tackled inside the Broncos' quarter.

The ball was spread left through Marshall but a pass meant for winger Lote Tuqiri went to ground and was swooped on by a Broncos player.

The visitors raced downfield to get inside Wests Tigers 30 metre zone. Two tackles later, they scored in the corner through centre Jack Reed for a 4-0 lead after 12 minutes. Half-back Peter Wallace failed to convert the try.

Two minutes later, Reed grabbed his second try when he swooped on a Wallace bomb that was left to bounce by Moltzen and winger Beau Ryan. Wallace converted the try for a 10-0 lead after 17 minutes.

Lock Chris Heighington left the field with a left hand injury not long after.

Having absorbed plenty of pressure midway through the first half, Wests Tigers got on the board when second-rower Liam Fulton scored off a pass from centre Blake Ayshford in the 34th minute. Ayshford did well to offload a pass in a three man tackle on the last tackle with the ball hitting the ground for Fulton to toe through to dive on to score for a 10-4 scoreline. Marshall failed to convert the try.

Wests Tigers prop Matt Groat left the field with concussion five minutes before half-time after a high shot by Brisbane forward Ben Te'o who was replaced on report.

2nd Half
Wests Tigers started the second half with 15 men with Heighington (suspected broken left hand) and Groat (concussion) unavailable.

Brisbane extended their lead to 12-4 in the 58th minute when Corey Parker converted a penalty goal after second-rower Adam Blair hit Wallace late with a shoulder after a clearing kick.

Wests Tigers turned on some razzle dazzle through Tuqiri and Robbie Farah before a pass inside the Broncos quarter went to ground. It was picked up Beau Ryan who put a kick through only to see the ball go dead.

The Broncos sealed the win in the 72nd minute when winger Dale Copley outleapt Ryan to score off a crossfield kick from Wallace for a 16-4 lead.Parker converted the try from out wide to take the score to 18-4 after 74 minutes.

Centre Blake Ayshford dived over in the corner in the 75th minute before Marshall nailed a sideline conversion to leave Wests Tigers trailing 18-10.
An inside ball by Marshall saw half-back Tom Humble dive over on full-time for an 18-14 scoreline. Marshall failed to convert the try after the siren.

 

[Guest]

Tigers slump to fifth successive loss
Steve Jancetic
April 6, 2012 - 9:55PM
\
\
Wests Tigers' early-season struggles turned into a full-blown crisis as the one-time NRL premiership favourites slumped to a fifth straight defeat with an 18-14 loss to Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.

Desperately needing a win to stay in touch with the top eight, the Tigers struggled to stay with a Broncos side that could have had the game sewn up midway through the opening half if only they hadn't butchered two try-scoring opportunities.

Fullback Tim Moltzen endured a tough night with a performance he'd rather forget, the final scoreline flattering the home side with late tries to Blake Ayshford and Tom Humble.

Centre Jack Reed scored a double within four minutes for Brisbane, but it wasn't all good for the visitors, with back-rower Ben Te'o sure to find himself in hot water after being put on report for a shoulder charge that put Matt Groat out of the contest due to concussion.

A brilliant Benji Marshall ball for Moltzen looked like putting the Tigers on the scoreboard first, but when the play broke down, the Broncos counterattacked with venom as Reed crossed for his first.

Chris Heighington raced up the tunnel with a suspected broken left hand, but there's little doubt Moltzen would have happily traded places after gifting Reed a second when he allowed a Peter Wallace bomb to bounce in a miscommunication with winger Beau Ryan.

Matt Gillett should have made it three tries in eight minutes only to drop a pass with the line wide open, before Moltzen had another shaky moment - this time with Lote Tuqiri - but his blushes were saved by a Dale Copley knock-on when all he had to do was catch the ball and fall over the tryline.

Knowing their side could very easily have been down 22-0, Tigers fans turned on their own, with the coach's box copping a particularly heavy spray.

Moltzen received a rousing cheer when he finally clasped onto a bomb, only for the hands to again go to fans' heads when he dropped it in the tackle.

Liam Fulton scored six minutes out from halftime to give them some joy, but that was all they had to cheer about until the final minutes.

Tigers back-rower Adam Blair joined Te'o on report just after halftime for a late hit on Wallace, with Corey Parker's ensuing penalty goal pushing the margin out to eight.

Copley made up for his earlier error when he reeled in a Corey Norman kick to score eight minutes from time.

 

[sunshine_coast_tiger]

Tigers slump to fifth successive loss
Steve Jancetic
April 6, 2012 - 9:55PM
\
\
Wests Tigers' early-season struggles turned into a full-blown crisis as the one-time NRL premiership favourites slumped to a fifth straight defeat with an 18-14 loss to Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.

Desperately needing a win to stay in touch with the top eight, the Tigers struggled to stay with a Broncos side that could have had the game sewn up midway through the opening half if only they hadn't butchered two try-scoring opportunities.

Fullback Tim Moltzen endured a tough night with a performance he'd rather forget, the final scoreline flattering the home side with late tries to Blake Ayshford and Tom Humble.

Centre Jack Reed scored a double within four minutes for Brisbane, but it wasn't all good for the visitors, with back-rower Ben Te'o sure to find himself in hot water after being put on report for a shoulder charge that put Matt Groat out of the contest due to concussion.

A brilliant Benji Marshall ball for Moltzen looked like putting the Tigers on the scoreboard first, but when the play broke down, the Broncos counterattacked with venom as Reed crossed for his first.

Chris Heighington raced up the tunnel with a suspected broken left hand, but there's little doubt Moltzen would have happily traded places after gifting Reed a second when he allowed a Peter Wallace bomb to bounce in a miscommunication with winger Beau Ryan.

Matt Gillett should have made it three tries in eight minutes only to drop a pass with the line wide open, before Moltzen had another shaky moment - this time with Lote Tuqiri - but his blushes were saved by a Dale Copley knock-on when all he had to do was catch the ball and fall over the tryline.

Knowing their side could very easily have been down 22-0, Tigers fans turned on their own, with the coach's box copping a particularly heavy spray.

Moltzen received a rousing cheer when he finally clasped onto a bomb, only for the hands to again go to fans' heads when he dropped it in the tackle.

Liam Fulton scored six minutes out from halftime to give them some joy, but that was all they had to cheer about until the final minutes.

**Tigers back-rower Adam Blair joined Te'o on report just after halftime for a late hit on Wallace**, with Corey Parker's ensuing penalty goal pushing the margin out to eight.

Copley made up for his earlier error when he reeled in a Corey Norman kick to score eight minutes from time.

I am almost certain Blair wasn't placed on report for the hit on Wallace, referee said penalty sufficient and for Blair to get his timing right. Actually if the touch judge hadn't come in I doubt it would have been a penalty as a penalty given by the video referee must also involve the player being placed on report.

 

[Guest]

Tigers low on confidence, points and players
Glenn Jackson
April 7, 2012

FORGET, for a moment, that Wests Tigers will have to do something no other team has ever done before if they are to recover to win the premiership. The Tigers won't win the comp, not because history is against them but because they are running out of players to take the field.

Another off night for the Tigers was exacerbated by injuries to Chris Heighington, who suffered a broken left hand, and prop Matt Groat, who was flattened in a controversial tackle by Brisbane's Ben Te'o.

So it was business as usual for the Tigers, who paid a heavy price for losing players and losing possession - ultimately losing the contest. While they tried hard - no doubt - their confidence is low, rather like their resources. For most of last night's match they were two men down, so they should be given credit for digging in and also for fighting back.

Their late rally was too little, too late, though. No team has won the premiership after a 1-5 start to the season; they will need to defy more than just history to bounce back.

''If the effort wasn't there, I'd be worried,'' Tigers captain Robbie Farah said. ''Things aren't going our way … when you're not winning games, things don't go your way, but we're working hard at training. We worked hard right to the 80th minute. Things will turn. A win's around the corner.''

It will need to be. Last night's defeat, their fifth in a row, was again costly beyond the scoreboard. Te'o, whose hit on Groat concussed the Tigers prop to the point of no return, was placed on report, yet the force of the shoulder charge, and the fact the Tigers were left without a player for 42 minutes will leave many asking whether the punishment fitted the crime. Te'o faces a suspension for the hit but that will be no consolation to the Tigers.

The hit was similar to the controversial shoulder charge by Bulldogs forward Frank Pritchard. The difference was that while Pritchard was flat-footed when he hit Panther David Simmons, Te'o was charging the man with the ball.

But the first half was costly in other ways. Fullback Tim Moltzen had a half to forget, allowing two bombs to bounce and fumbling another - having done the hard work by catching the high ball - in the tackle close to his posts.

Moltzen was displaying the classic symptoms of a player down in confidence. He has been most of the season, especially in his much-anticipated match-up with St George Illawarra.

His first error, from halfback Peter Wallace's kick, came after a communication breakdown with winger Beau Ryan. After he failed to take Corey Norman's bomb not long after, only Dale Copley's own dropsies prevented the Broncos from scoring.

The traditional Bronx cheer hardly helped; Moltzen managed to catch the next bomb but lost the ball in the tackle. He was copping such a serve from Tigers fans that it would not have surprised if they had been Dragons supporters dressed in black and orange. They weren't though; Tigers fans were turning on their own.

They had help. The Broncos were strong. Centre Justin Hodges was difficult to put down while Wallace's kicking game, like his all-round game, was superb, and Broncos coach Anthony Griffin was happy to push his case for a NSW Origin recall after last night's display.

Norman is excelling by the week at five-eighth. He finished off the display, setting up a try in the corner for Copley. The Tigers responded, but it was too late. Time will tell whether their eventual recovery will be too late for their season as well.

 

[Guest]

Five things we learnt from last night's game:
April 7, 2012

1\. Brisbane are the real deal.

The Broncos have a provisional share of the competition lead this morning and that is no fluke. Consternation about the retirement of Darren Lockyer has been promptly eased, with Anthony Griffin marshalling a well-oiled, disciplined side performing above expectations. Only Melbourne have conceded fewer points and with international centres Justin Hodges and Jack Reed a constant threat they look genuine contenders.
\
\
2\. The Tigers are at least not 'soft'.

Tim Sheens' men were far from impressive and the task to resurrect their season has been made even tougher with Chris Heighington's broken hand and a draw that puts them on the road for the next three weeks. Amid the errors and lack of cohesion, though, they did have to play the second half with 15 men and brave defence and late tries kept the margin down.
\
\
3\. You better get a lawyer, Ben.

The Cruel Sea tune was appropriate after Brisbane hitman Ben Te'o left young Tigers prop Matt Groat in a daze with his shoulder just before half-time. Get ready for a sequel to the Frank Pritchard saga next week, with Te'o sure to come under the microscope of the NRL match review committee. Pritchard copped one week for his hit on David Simmons in round one. This one was worse.
\
\
4\. Tim Moltzen may be staying late at training next week.

You would've thought the Broncos' halves were directing grenades rather than a football at the Tigers fullback with his aversion to catching the high ball. Moltzen is a classy player - and was playing hurt after being in doubt during the week - but he will want to quickly forget a dismal night at the back.
\
\
5\. Don't forget about Peter Wallace for Origin.

The Broncos halfback hasn't entered into NSW discussions too often since the last of his four State of Origin appearances in 2009\. That could be about to change. The inside word is that Mitchell Pearce is no certainty to be retained unless he puts a strong case forward in the next month. Wallace, steering Brisbane around since Lockyer hung up the boots, is an increasingly attractive alternative.

Chris Barrett

 

[Guest]

Sheens calls for extra man after Groat hit
Chris Barrett
April 7, 2012
\
\
WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens says the NRL should consider introducing an 18th man on standby in situations where teams are disadvantaged by losing players through illegal conduct.

The Tigers played the entire second half of last night's 18-14 defeat to Brisbane with 15 men, having lost Chris Heighington with a badly broken hand and then front-rower Matt Groat to a high shoulder charge by Broncos utility Ben Te'o.

Te'o was placed on report and is likely to be cited by the NRL match review committee for the 38th-minute hit, which left the 20-year-old prop unconscious before he landed on the turf at Allianz Stadium. Groat did not return.

Sheens stopped short of saying Te'o should have been sent off, but argued the Tigers were clearly disadvantaged as a result of the incident. His chances of a suspension are increased by the precedent set by the review committee and judiciary after round one, when Bulldogs forward Frank Pritchard was banned for a week for a shoulder charge that made contact with the head of Penrith winger David Simmons.

''Matty Groat was out cold. I would say he won't play next week,'' Sheens said. ''He got him right on the point of the chin. He was out before he hit the ground. I'm not going to predict whether or not they'll cite him. I'd imagine [they] will, and if he does miss games it'll be the team next week that gets the advantage, not us tonight.

''I'm not going to say send-off, although the issue today with referees unlike the '70s and the '80s is you get a good replay of it. If Hampstead didn't think it was worth sending off, then normally they tip them, 'put them on report'.

''I still think it was a soft option but anyway, they're not to know that the kid is out cold and can't come back on. In saying that, as soon as he hit the ground I knew from where I was sitting that he was in all sorts.''

Sheens said a solution could be adding an extra man to each team but one that could only be used in the event an injured player can't play on as a result of an illegal act.

''The free interchange is a start but you're still playing with 15 men,'' Sheens said. ''If you go with 18, what happens if you get two? So where do you draw the line? But it is a disadvantage to a team to lose a man and have a guy put on report.

''All I'm saying is there is an anomaly in the system. I think probably an extra man is a good start and the doctors are particularly asking us to bring people off. If you're hit illegally … and can't go back out, as Groat was tonight, then maybe you're in a position to put an extra man on the field. Something has to be looked at.''

Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, meanwhile, argued in Te'o's defence, just as Canterbury coach Des Hasler did vehemently in the Pritchard case last month.

''It's a contact sport. I'd have to have a closer look at it but it's a shoulder charge,'' Griffin said. ''All of a sudden they're illegal. I think anyone understands the game, understands the shoulder charge isn't an intentional, malicious thing trying to attack the guy's head, it's an aggression thing, trying to get your team on the front foot.

''If he goes in with a swinging arm and clocks him on the head he deserves everything he gets but he's just trying to get us on the front foot. If he hadn't stung the guy that well, and he got up and played the ball, it would've been play on. If it's going to be like that they've got to just ban shoulder charges like rugby union. I don't know if we want to get like rugby union.''

Broncos captain Sam Thaiday agreed. ''It was a good tough hit,'' he said.

 

[cunno]

The way Wests Tigers defended last night showed a lot of determination and improving attitude if anything their confidence should build from that game pity the writer didn't put that slant in the article.

 

[cunno]

Tigers slump to fifth successive loss
Steve Jancetic
April 6, 2012 - 9:55PM
\
\
Wests Tigers' early-season struggles turned into a full-blown crisis as the one-time NRL premiership favourites slumped to a fifth straight defeat with an 18-14 loss to Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.

Desperately needing a win to stay in touch with the top eight, the Tigers struggled to stay with a Broncos side that could have had the game sewn up midway through the opening half if only they hadn't butchered two try-scoring opportunities.

Fullback Tim Moltzen endured a tough night with a performance he'd rather forget, the final scoreline flattering the home side with late tries to Blake Ayshford and Tom Humble.

Centre Jack Reed scored a double within four minutes for Brisbane, but it wasn't all good for the visitors, with back-rower Ben Te'o sure to find himself in hot water after being put on report for a shoulder charge that put Matt Groat out of the contest due to concussion.

A brilliant Benji Marshall ball for Moltzen looked like putting the Tigers on the scoreboard first, but when the play broke down, the Broncos counterattacked with venom as Reed crossed for his first.

Chris Heighington raced up the tunnel with a suspected broken left hand, but there's little doubt Moltzen would have happily traded places after gifting Reed a second when he allowed a Peter Wallace bomb to bounce in a miscommunication with winger Beau Ryan.

Matt Gillett should have made it three tries in eight minutes only to drop a pass with the line wide open, before Moltzen had another shaky moment - this time with Lote Tuqiri - but his blushes were saved by a Dale Copley knock-on when all he had to do was catch the ball and fall over the tryline.

Knowing their side could very easily have been down 22-0, Tigers fans turned on their own, with the coach's box copping a particularly heavy spray.

Moltzen received a rousing cheer when he finally clasped onto a bomb, only for the hands to again go to fans' heads when he dropped it in the tackle.

Liam Fulton scored six minutes out from halftime to give them some joy, but that was all they had to cheer about until the final minutes.

**Tigers back-rower Adam Blair joined Te'o on report just after halftime for a late hit on Wallace**, with Corey Parker's ensuing penalty goal pushing the margin out to eight.

Copley made up for his earlier error when he reeled in a Corey Norman kick to score eight minutes from time.

I am almost certain Blair wasn't placed on report for the hit on Wallace, referee said penalty sufficient and for Blair to get his timing right. Actually if the touch judge hadn't come in I doubt it would have been a penalty as a penalty given by the video referee must also involve the player being placed on report.

Correct, Blair was NOT put on report by Lyons.