One of our best wins EVER!

Starting to come down from the high that performance put me on. And what a high it was. Better than heroin. It's still beyond words. I can't remember the last game i watched with such intensity like today. It's almost like the teams intensity seeped through the TV screen, it was contagious. I literally roared when Sue scored, scaring the girlfriend half to death in the process. Everyone involved deserves credit. It's a game like that where you really can't help but buy into the culture we hear Pascoe is hell bent on creating. Today has the potential to be the game that started it all. The game where we can say ''Back in 2016, after finishing 15th the yr before, and treading water for most of the yr, winning games that people argued the validity of, we came out late in the yr and absolutely bashed the full strength defending premiers and we haven't looked back since''.

Now of course, this game could always be an anomaly, but this performance has been coming. Even our last loss against the Dogs, we were under strength and took them all the way to the death. There's just something about this team the last couple months that's felt different, like they are the real deal. Today was the biggest test so far of that belief and they nailed it. I'm still taking it all in.

As good as it was though, the next test is backing it up. The loss to the GC in round 3 could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise this week, as it can be a gentle reminder that we cannot turn up assuming it's just going to happen. We have to make it happen ourselves. This side has been pretty solid for the last few months. They haven't lost any games that you can't accuse them of not having turned up with the right attitude. So turning up with the right attitude on Saturday will be monumental for our continued growth. It would show just how professional we are.

Last word on the playing group. I'm happy to put my hand up and admit i abused the hell out of them during the first part of the yr, thinking they were trying to undermine another coach and that they were an immature group of tossers. In the last 3 months since the Canberra game, i have watched in awe these guys grow up in front of my eyes and mature into a playing group that never say die, and leave everything out on the field. And to be able to still get the job down with the circus going on around them speaks volumes. I don't know if they like JT, they don't even have to at the end of the day. As long as they are buying into what JT is preaching that is all that matters. And given today's display, Stevie Wonder could see the commitment in the playing group that would not be there if they didn't have respect for the coach.
 
@GNR4LIFE said:
I've been a pretty big critic of Woods as C, but he's really come to the fore with his leadership the last few weeks. From shifting the focus back to the team when being pestered about Farah at the press conference to his words in the huddle after the win tonight. He's really growing into the role.
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I agree with you. I had the same thought tonight. Several times he appeared calm and was talking to the team. I haven't noticed that before.
 
I thought their management of Thurston was superb. I was really worried about what he would bring to the game, but they shut him down. You could see the frustration on his face. An excellent job.
 
@supercoach said:
We played Taylorball the whole second half,head down,bum up one out charges from our troops, and than well placed kicks. It worked and won us the game,so maybe Taylor should get some credit
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@NT Tiger said:
I thought their management of Thurston was superb. I was really worried about what he would bring to the game, but they shut him down. You could see the frustration on his face. An excellent job.
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That it was. Have to say that I agree with Taylor that it was probably a good thing they didn't pull Thurston out. They may not have treated the game with the respect it deserved.
 
Its funny Taylor said in his presso that the Cows were slightly off their game and plenty of other people have been saying the same thing, I just do not think you can praise our effort in defence enough. When talking defence these days the new buzz words are "first contact", ourfirst contact yesterday was often brutal

Okay the might have been off their game, but the old saying you can only play as well as the opposition allows you and that was evident yesterday
 
Best defensive effort this year Yes the Cows may have been a bit off their game but we rattled them. Our attack was a bit cross field but considering the changes and losing ET early they adjusted well. The Leichardt oval hoodoo lives on for JT apart from the perfect kick for their first try he had the worst game I have seen him play for a long time
A great day out at Leichardt and a great win.
 
@supercoach said:
Its funny Taylor said in his presso that the Cows were slightly off their game and plenty of other people have been saying the same thing, I just do not think you can praise our effort in defence enough. When talking defence these days the new buzz words are "first contact", ourfirst contact yesterday was often brutal

Okay the might have been off their game, but the old saying you can only play as well as the opposition allows you and that was evident yesterday
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I think it was a case of Taylor keeping their feet on the ground which is a smart move…a victory such as that for a young team could see them get ahead of themselves...the job of finals footy is far from done...

As for the Cows being off their game I think Gus says it best...

However, it would be totally unfair on the Tigers for anyone to suggest the Cowboys were below their best. The Tigers won because they produced their own personal best and the Cowboys just couldn't deal with it on the day.
 
The body language of the team was great, their effort and commitment even better .

The way they celebrated simple things was like they had scored a try
Lawrence hit on JT that forced a drop ball, great the see the team rally as one..
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And before someone thinks of twisting this post, im sure Farah would have enjoyed seeing that too regardless of what the doomsdayers might say
 
@Love the WestsTigers said:
The body language of the team was great, their effort and commitment even better .

The way they celebrated simple things was like they had scored a try
Lawrence hit on JT that forced a drop ball, great the see the team rally as one..
\
\
And before someone thinks of twisting this post, im sure Farah would have enjoyed seeing that too regardless of what the doomsdayers might say
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As Farah stated at time of departure that the team with his inclusion was already playing excellently. I think that the team learnt over time this year that they could not have a bludge whether Farah was there or not. That is the massive change from previous years. They needed other consistent attackers and leadership for when he was not there and that has now been provided.
 
For me the 2005 Semi final win against the Dragons was the clubs best win ever….(inc the G.F)....but yesterday's win was top 3 for sure.....
 
It may have been said before but I loved huddle after the win. I was on the hill and love seeing that. Woods and Moses are becoming great leaders. They are showing a lot of confidence and everyone is buying in.
 
A lot of people have said the Cowboys weren't at their best. But people have been saying that about teams we've beaten all year.

At some point, you have to concede that our defensive pressure is making teams play below their best.
 
@notarealtiger said:
A lot of people have said the Cowboys weren't at their best. But people have been saying that about teams we've beaten all year.

At some point, you have to concede that our defensive pressure is making teams play below their best.
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Spot on
 
The jubilation they showed when Rowdy smashed Thurston and forced the error late was awesome to see… Just magnificent
 
@Byron Bay Fan said:
@Love the WestsTigers said:
The body language of the team was great, their effort and commitment even better .

The way they celebrated simple things was like they had scored a try
Lawrence hit on JT that forced a drop ball, great the see the team rally as one..
\
\
And before someone thinks of twisting this post, im sure Farah would have enjoyed seeing that too regardless of what the doomsdayers might say

As Farah stated at time of departure that the team with his inclusion was already playing excellently. I think that the team learnt over time this year that they could not have a bludge whether Farah was there or not. That is the massive change from previous years. They needed other consistent attackers and leadership for when he was not there and that has now been provided.
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Most definitely…they only won because the spirit of Robbie was running through their veins... :unamused:
 
I think the Manly game from round 2 is a decent example of how far we've come.
That was a big game, with the return of Taupau, first Leichhardt game of the year, and coming off a very solid upset win in round 1.
We came out early and bashed them - Nofoaluma smashing Taupau single-handedly at one stage. However the intensity dropped off and we let Manly back into the game not once but twice before ultimately finishing them off late.
Yesterday, we were on song all afternoon - that Lowe try came on the back of several sets in a row and fatigue setting in.
Make no mistake, we'd have lost that game earlier this year, let alone last year.
 
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