LIVE GAME Round 25 v Cowboys

[Siberian Kitten]

When Parra took the lead against the Rorters, they didn't lose intensity, they kept giving 100%. By contrast, when the Tigers pulled ahead of the Cows, they lost intensity ... 3 tries in 6 minutes is not an accident or a fluke. It's what happens when one team is giving its all and the other isn't.

 

[weststigers]

Just soft defence as usual, expected to win at home full crowd! Shite effort, up by 10 then let in 3 tries! Hate to say it but typical tigers, all they had too do was play the smart football after the two try advantage. But instead they play like they’re behind risky pass when not needed, get to the kick moron, work down the field kick ti the corner! Instead shite!!

Who are you talking to?

 

[weststigers]

L:ike i alluded to earlier today - another 8th wonder blunder

Thank you for your wisdom.

 

[diedpretty]

Thank you for your wisdom.

your welcome

 

[weststigers]

your welcome

*you're

You're welcome 🙏

 

[Hargreaves]

The loss was classic Wests Tigers - We got to a 12 point lead. I looked at the Cowboys players behind the try line while Api was taking the kick and their body language (for the first time all afternoon) was poor. They were thinking this game is lost. ALL WE HAD TO DO was play smart, control the game and respect the ball. So 5 hit ups, kick long to the corner and try to pin them down. Game would have been over.

But not the Benji boys - just like their coach in his heyday, they think to themselves "We have them on toast, we can put on a show!" So on just the third tackle a risky play to Latu who drops it. Cowboys suddenly energised. Score straight away and score again and again.

We simply threw it away. WE have no game management. Benji was the same when he played. This has been happening for over 15 years. If we had a Scott Prince or a Cameron Smith on the field yesterday they would have done what I said above and easily won the game. And dozens of others like it over the years.

Benji says he is changing the culture. While I like the effort from most in the team this year and the energy and competitiveness, until we get smart and learn game management we will continue to lose games we simply should not lose and we will never fully succeed.

 

[BAGNF05]

Feeling very flat and disappointed tonight. Was on the hill with my whole family and some friends, and the atmosphere was awesome for much of the game. At the point we were up by 12 everyone was so excited, then to lose the way we did was such a let down.
Still not quite sure how we can lose focus and concentration like that. We basically stopped thinking about how to win - you would have to think leadership failed at that point in the game and game management went out the window.
A good team knows when and how to step up when needed and how to switch gears or adopt various game plans instantly. We simply are not at that level yet.

Our right edge got carved up all afternoon. The lead only hid that fact. Naden is cooked and Benji has to be criticised for giving him too many opportunities.

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Sad ending to our season - played well enough to win but too many poor moments got us in the end.

Didn't really learn much new though - we knew we didnt have enough depth in the middles and that came through. Thought the lack of middles meant we couldnt put the game to bed earlier. Also thought our line speed yesterday was poor.

We did struggle to contain their starting middles both in first half and second half when they were on together. Too many of our starting forwards don't hit hard in defence and mostly catch players. Means against powerful forwards with good running games, opposition teams make a lot of metres and often get fast play the balls.

Think it's really important we can find a lock/hooker hybrid that is strong defensively who can play the first 15 minutes at dummy half and then sits on the bench for the rest of the match unless injuries strike. Only player we have on the books currently that is even capable of potentially playing that role is Murray. Would honestly be telling him to work on his dummy half play the entire off season. Defensively he is stronger than Api but at the moment he doesn't have the passing game to play that role for us. You'd think 3ish months practicing that he might be able to do that role. Not sure though.

Did think Latu looked decent at 7. Really not sure if he should be 7 or 14 next season. Good problem that though.

 

[tonza]

The rot started when Latu Fainu dropped a perfectly good pass from Appy on the 3rd tackle. The cows scored off that error. They scored again in the next set of 6 after we restarted. Even allowing for a last-ditch tackle from Latu. Pity he did not put that extra effort he had punching the wall after going off for HIA into the tackle he made on Burns and send him over the side line.
Latu has a habit of carrying on after making tackles and will need to behave more like Luai did when he got a whack in the head and immediately got to his feet fearing the dreaded Hia. All in all, some very poor defensive lapses down the right-hand side again and hopefully coaches are as observant as the rest of us.

 

[lathami]

Who are you talking to?

Same person u talk to!

 

[weststigers]

Same person u talk to!

Your mum?

 

[bbobb]

I think the difference was no Douiehi at the end of the game. He seems to be our best organiser and may have directed our attack also he could have been able to pin the Cowboys down with his kicking game.

 

[lathami]

Your mum?

Are u ok??
Seriously what is wrong with u??

 

[NT_Tiger]

The loss was classic Wests Tigers - We got to a 12 point lead. I looked at the Cowboys players behind the try line while Api was taking the kick and their body language (for the first time all afternoon) was poor. They were thinking this game is lost. ALL WE HAD TO DO was play smart, control the game and respect the ball. So 5 hit ups, kick long to the corner and try to pin them down. Game would have been over.

But not the Benji boys - just like their coach in his heyday, they think to themselves "We have them on toast, we can put on a show!" So on just the third tackle a risky play to Latu who drops it. Cowboys suddenly energised. Score straight away and score again and again.

We simply threw it away. WE have no game management. Benji was the same when he played. This has been happening for over 15 years. If we had a Scott Prince or a Cameron Smith on the field yesterday they would have done what I said above and easily won the game. And dozens of others like it over the years.

Benji says he is changing the culture. While I like the effort from most in the team this year and the energy and competitiveness, until we get smart and learn game management we will continue to lose games we simply should not lose and we will never fully succeed.

I agree with much of this. One point of learning from my perspective is, when we get into a lead like we had, one or more of the leaders need to get in the huddle and remind the team that they dont have it won yet. Keep up the intensity and remember the basics, maybe play some settling sets and wait for another opportunity.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I re-watched the 1st half last night (and hopefully the rest tonight) trying to focus on effort, line speed & off-the-ball plays.

I just want to say Alex Twal, wow!

His line speed & contact in defence when trying to pin the Cows in their own half was immense & the best in our team. He is such a valuable player in our 13 whether that will be starting lock or prop into next season.

Also I was impressed with the much-maligned Royce Hunt. He had a 12 min stint before HT and had 3 or 4 strong 'Royce' runs which dented the opposition. He also defended fine in this period, made his tackles, got back in line and never got caught retreating.

If we can work on this Royce over the pre-season, this is the type of player we need for 10-12 mins either side of HT.

 

[weststigers]

Are u ok??
Seriously what is wrong with u??

Don't be a soft rooster

 

[Stevec]

What really went wrong is lack of game awareness
When you are up 28-16 with about 15 mins to go you totally switch emphasis to defence .Complete sets ,kick to corners and pin them down and the defensive line is evenly spread with no large gaps
Instead following one lost ball we concede 18 points in 6 minutes
Also losing Latu to HIA on our right nothing was done to shore up that edge
No game awareness
Responsibility for this Benji and his runner Heighington
Also the Captain Luai and Api needed to call out the holes
This wasn't done and we lost !

 

[bptiger 0]

bah humbug - No more, its no excuse ,They played better than us - today

Do u really think they out played us , I think it was 50-50 , the couple of points in the second I think changed the game ,
1) the bomb that drinkwater knocked on but the bonker ruled we knocked on
2) the ball was been kicked around on the floor and the bonker again didn’t give us 6 more tackles , when it looked like the cows player touched the ball before we picked it up
Both went against us giving the cows time to recover , just my thoughts

 

[lathami]

Don't be a soft rooster

Typical, sure u don’t support the dogs??

 

[weststigers]

Typical, sure u don’t support the dogs??

Don't get upset now