LIVE GAME Round 9 versus Sharks

[Jolls]

I really have to ask

Why Tino and Toa and not Latu Fainu?

I can't tell if this is smarts or a dumb decision from Benji. As it seems Latu is kept for Halves roles, yet he has been on the bench so many games and could defend better then Toa.

Flip it, getting people used to playing 1-2 positions should build their skills in those positions. I have little to no doubt Latu would have defended better then Toa at Center.

It comes down to what Benji was expecting from Toa and Tino - experience inside youth and an aerial threat on that edge. While I have also called for Toa to be dropped I don't think the disruption to that edge in defence losing AD can be pushed aside. The coordination does not have to be out by much for a centre, and by extension his winger, to look stupid in defence.

Don't be surprised to see Benji giving them the opportunity to make amends. I think he is that type of coach that will give players, especially young ones, some grace.

 

[Flippedy]

Completely agree with your evaluation of our forwards work rate...the discipline that this team has at times is absolutely daunting..they are NRL players that are paid very well to perform at this level...
The one thing that really irks me at the moment is that Toa is a fg centre,and I can't for the life of me understand why Benji persists with him,his position is one that highly depends on defense,sorry to say his is shocking ...I played a lot of centre and wing in my day and my coach would have absolutely kicked my butt if I performed like Toa did on Sunday,and I was just a country kid playing for my home team..
Let's all look ahead to next week and see if things can get better for us...love your input Tucker..

Even in our win against Canberra Toa was a passenger. I also can’t see why Benji thinks he is good enough to be in this team. He might have talent there somewhere, but he lacks passion and is a really lazy player. His lack of drive and commitment on the field goes against everything that Benji is supposedly about this season. It’s a head scratcher, hoping Herbert will be back this week.

 

[Flippedy]

We will get absolutely pumped by Melbourne. Nothing anyone can do about it with those injuries unfortunately

Have you seen Melbourne play this season?
Yes we have lost a lot of strike, but we still have some very good players left and if they just turn up and play for each other like they have been for most of the season, there is no reason we can’t beat a very beatable Melbourne.

Other teams have had massive injuries this year, but have managed to stand up and win games against the odds, there is no reason we cannot do this as well.

I’m hoping last Sunday’s debacle will jolt the team back to earth a bit and make them more determined to not let that happen again.

 

[Fish88]

Even in our win against Canberra Toa was a passenger. I also can’t see why Benji thinks he is good enough to be in this team. He might have talent there somewhere, but he lacks passion and is a really lazy player. His lack of drive and commitment on the field goes against everything that Benji is supposedly about this season. It’s a head scratcher, hoping Herbert will be back this week

His selection does seem to be against Benji's policy of earning selection through effort areas. He is by far the laziest / unfittest player we have. He is always gassed after 30 minutes and continually takes easy options. Don't know what he is holding over Benji to always get picked, I know we have depth issues in that position but HERBERT at least rips in with effort and couldn't be any worse.

 

[innsaneink]

Il

Don't be surprised to see Benji giving them the opportunity to make amends. I think he is that type of coach that will give players, especially young ones, some grace.

If we were at full strength and in with a shot i could understand him doing this.
But we are long odds in melb...our last visit there still gives people nightmares...and the storm will target them as the sharks did undoubtedly

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

After watching the game again, I am confident this result is just 'one out of the box' and the coaching staff can isolate some factors to work on.

#1 Errors in our own half - concentration, technique, discipline with ball
#2 Right hand side defence in red zone - Madden, To'a, Tavana
#3 Line speed & ruck control on early tackles under fatigue (fatigue played a part in this due to #1)
#4 Defusing contested high kicks - protecting winger, winger decision making whether to contest etc

Fix up #1 & #2 particularly and scoreline & even result is a lot different.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Have you seen Melbourne play this season?
Yes we have lost a lot of strike, but we still have some very good players left and if they just turn up and play for each other like they have been for most of the season, there is no reason we can’t beat a very beatable Melbourne.

Other teams have had massive injuries this year, but have managed to stand up and win games against the odds, there is no reason we cannot do this as well.

I’m hoping last Sunday’s debacle will jolt the team back to earth a bit and make them more determined to not let that happen again.

Yeh I’ve seen Melbourne play. The difference is they have several champions in their team and are a very strong club playing for their sick coach. Anyway let’s see, I’m happy to be very wrong!

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Grow up mate..he dropped some really difficult kicks under a lot of pressure ,,, with no help at all but he kept trying,,, game was done , Benji did what he felt best ,,, you can keep beating the issue to death but Toa didn’t even try to tackle players and did his best to avoid responsibility… played like a deadset cat

Against Sharks - Skelton would of been better suited

What Coach Benji thinks and what is reality are worlds apart

 

[balmain boy]

Balmain Boy, your better then that. Call it how it is. Toa should not have been on that field. It should have been Herbert. If you watch the game and focus in on Turuvas facial expressions of Toa not committing to tackles you will get your answer. Tavana had a shocker and Skelton should have been there. Watching Sukkar’s game he actually held his own and had to cover for all the extra tackles needed to be made due to poor errors. His stats were actually similar as Samuela. His post contact metres were one of the highest in his team. I guess he will be the scapegoat this week as the coach has no choice but to show he made changes. It Toa is in the team, there will be a lot of question marks. Hopefully they rebound and get a good win over in Melbourne.

Absolutely Toa shouldn't be there, and gladly he isn't.

 

[innsaneink]

‘He’s stayed staunch’: Meet the five-year-old Tigers fan whose tears went viral
Christian Nicolussi
Christian Nicolussi

The five-year-old fan who went viral after TV cameras captured him in tears as his Wests Tigers heroes were thumped by Cronulla on Sunday has been raised on weekly re-runs of the club’s 2005 NRL grand final triumph.
Noah Deguara’s father made him watch the Tigers’ victory in the premiership decider so often that he began thinking they were unbeatable whenever they took the field.

TV cameras caught Noah Deguara in tears as the Sharks piled on the points against his Tigers favourites.
TV cameras caught Noah Deguara in tears as the Sharks piled on the points against his Tigers favourites. Twitter
Dad Cori Deguara did not see much merit in exposing his boy to some of the Tigers’ more recent seasons, which saw them collect three wooden spoons.
So the sight of his favourites being thumped 52-10 at Ocean Protect Stadium was more than a tearful Noah could bear. Matters weren’t helped by big sister Olivia, a 20-year-old Cronulla fan, who couldn’t contain her laughter at Noah’s expense – though she did give him a consoling cuddle.
“I gave it to him a bit,” Olivia admitted on Tuesday. “It was funny, but I was also actually hoping they’d win so I could see him excited.”
Cori said it had broken his heart to see his boy so upset, and blamed himself for indoctrinating him into the Tigers cause.

Five-year old Wests Tigers fan Noah Deguara with big sister Liv, 20, on Tuesday.
Five-year old Wests Tigers fan Noah Deguara with big sister Liv, 20, on Tuesday.Steven Siewert
“Noah’s older brother and sisters have been trying to convert him to the Roosters or Panthers or Sharks, especially because the Tigers kept losing,” Cori said. “Everyone has been trying to bribe him. I almost lost him for a second, but he’s stayed staunch.
“I kept showing Noah replays of the 2005 grand final. He’d watch that game every week, which is why he loves [Tigers coach] Benji [Marshall] so much.

“He was under the impression the Tigers won every week. I didn’t have the heart to show him some of their other games.
“Now he’s old enough to understand the Tigers don’t always win. You saw that on Sunday. At least he’s had a bit more to cheer this season.


0:24
Nicho Hynes' message to young Tigers fan
Noah Deguara was left heartbroken by Wests Tigers' defeat to Cronulla on Sunday. Sharks star Hynes had some words of support.
“He still loves them, especially Benji and Jarome Luai. He’s played footy since he was three years of age, and is always trying the Benji and Jarome step. He plays with the Caringbah Sharks, and was man of the match on the weekend.”
This masthead asked Nicho Hynes to record a video for Noah, and the Sharks star was happy to oblige. “Sorry to see you get upset on the big screen on the weekend,” Hynes told Noah. “Hope you’re doing well now. It’s always a pleasure having people like you at the game who get emotional and ride the performances with the players.

All friends again: Liv and Noah Deguara on Tuesday.
All friends again: Liv and Noah Deguara on Tuesday.Steven Siewert
“It’s never too late to become a Sharkie, if you want to switch over to the good side. All the best. I’ll maybe see you at Shark Park again next year. Up Up.”
The Tigers were touched by Noah’s display of raw emotion, and plan to give him the ultimate game-day experience when they return home in the coming weeks.
Noah himself was in a much better mood in the brilliant sunshine at Cronulla on Tuesday.
“I was crying because the Tigers lost,” he told this masthead. “My friends at school said, ‘Noah, we saw you crying on the TV’. I love Jarome and Adam Doueihi. Adam is my favourite kicker, and Jarome is my favourite ‘scorer’. Hopefully they don’t [lose] again.

 

[innsaneink]

The Rugby League Report ·
Follow​

12h ·

Hey @nrl_weststigers can this young homie, Noah run out with the team next home game? I cried as a kid when the Panthers beat my Roosters in 2003. I was young too. Only 43 years old when that happened.

Jack Mitchell
Corey Horsburgh cried when the Raiders lost to the Eels in 2020, ever since then Corey has been able to run out with the Raiders team at all of their home games and even their away games, I think it is only fair that Noah gets to do the same with the Tigers.

 

[Buttface]

‘He’s stayed staunch’: Meet the five-year-old Tigers fan whose tears went viral
Christian Nicolussi
Christian Nicolussi

The five-year-old fan who went viral after TV cameras captured him in tears as his Wests Tigers heroes were thumped by Cronulla on Sunday has been raised on weekly re-runs of the club’s 2005 NRL grand final triumph.
Noah Deguara’s father made him watch the Tigers’ victory in the premiership decider so often that he began thinking they were unbeatable whenever they took the field.

TV cameras caught Noah Deguara in tears as the Sharks piled on the points against his Tigers favourites.
TV cameras caught Noah Deguara in tears as the Sharks piled on the points against his Tigers favourites. Twitter
Dad Cori Deguara did not see much merit in exposing his boy to some of the Tigers’ more recent seasons, which saw them collect three wooden spoons.
So the sight of his favourites being thumped 52-10 at Ocean Protect Stadium was more than a tearful Noah could bear. Matters weren’t helped by big sister Olivia, a 20-year-old Cronulla fan, who couldn’t contain her laughter at Noah’s expense – though she did give him a consoling cuddle.
“I gave it to him a bit,” Olivia admitted on Tuesday. “It was funny, but I was also actually hoping they’d win so I could see him excited.”
Cori said it had broken his heart to see his boy so upset, and blamed himself for indoctrinating him into the Tigers cause.

Five-year old Wests Tigers fan Noah Deguara with big sister Liv, 20, on Tuesday.
Five-year old Wests Tigers fan Noah Deguara with big sister Liv, 20, on Tuesday.Steven Siewert
“Noah’s older brother and sisters have been trying to convert him to the Roosters or Panthers or Sharks, especially because the Tigers kept losing,” Cori said. “Everyone has been trying to bribe him. I almost lost him for a second, but he’s stayed staunch.
“I kept showing Noah replays of the 2005 grand final. He’d watch that game every week, which is why he loves [Tigers coach] Benji [Marshall] so much.

“He was under the impression the Tigers won every week. I didn’t have the heart to show him some of their other games.
“Now he’s old enough to understand the Tigers don’t always win. You saw that on Sunday. At least he’s had a bit more to cheer this season.


0:24
Nicho Hynes' message to young Tigers fan
Noah Deguara was left heartbroken by Wests Tigers' defeat to Cronulla on Sunday. Sharks star Hynes had some words of support.
“He still loves them, especially Benji and Jarome Luai. He’s played footy since he was three years of age, and is always trying the Benji and Jarome step. He plays with the Caringbah Sharks, and was man of the match on the weekend.”
This masthead asked Nicho Hynes to record a video for Noah, and the Sharks star was happy to oblige. “Sorry to see you get upset on the big screen on the weekend,” Hynes told Noah. “Hope you’re doing well now. It’s always a pleasure having people like you at the game who get emotional and ride the performances with the players.

All friends again: Liv and Noah Deguara on Tuesday.
All friends again: Liv and Noah Deguara on Tuesday.Steven Siewert
“It’s never too late to become a Sharkie, if you want to switch over to the good side. All the best. I’ll maybe see you at Shark Park again next year. Up Up.”
The Tigers were touched by Noah’s display of raw emotion, and plan to give him the ultimate game-day experience when they return home in the coming weeks.
Noah himself was in a much better mood in the brilliant sunshine at Cronulla on Tuesday.
“I was crying because the Tigers lost,” he told this masthead. “My friends at school said, ‘Noah, we saw you crying on the TV’. I love Jarome and Adam Doueihi. Adam is my favourite kicker, and Jarome is my favourite ‘scorer’. Hopefully they don’t [lose] again.

Now that is some quality WT’s brain washing of ya kids right there.
Everyone with kids who don’t follow the Tigpies take note and do better. That bloke deserves a free membership.

 

[gregjm87]

Have you seen Melbourne play this season?
Yes we have lost a lot of strike, but we still have some very good players left and if they just turn up and play for each other like they have been for most of the season, there is no reason we can’t beat a very beatable Melbourne.

Other teams have had massive injuries this year, but have managed to stand up and win games against the odds, there is no reason we cannot do this as well.

I’m hoping last Sunday’s debacle will jolt the team back to earth a bit and make them more determined to not let that happen again.

As much as I think Storm are likely we're certainly a decent shot.
Last week's debacle wasn't so much about the players out (obviously that caused the problem) but poor line up selection. Any one of that right edge could do a job in first grade. All 4 of them lined up together as 4 weak defenders with no communication was no hope. That has been somewhat fixed this week.
I'm still concerned about the Madden/Herbert channel but having KPP back to lead that edge is important and Turuva back up in the front line will help a little as well.
Similarly I think Fainu will be targeted on the other side but Luai is a very good defensive communicator.

 

[innsaneink]

1.1K reactions · 48 shares | All class from Benji talking to young Noah after footage of him in tears went viral. This is top tier. | The Rugby League Report

All class from Benji talking to young Noah after footage of him in tears went viral. This is top tier.

www.facebook.com

 

[Flippedy]

I find all this hoo ha about a kid crying in the crowd a bit strange. I’m sure it happens every weekend, but of course the media latch onto it because it’s one of our fans crying because we played like crap for one week and got smashed, when in reality he’s probably been ecstatic all year because we’re actually having a good season!

Can the media please just let us have a good season for once without trying to intimate that we’re still a crap team that makes our supporters cry? Where are all the shots of the crying Dragons kids who haven’t won a game all year and don’t look likely to win, or the Melbourne ones crying because they have never experienced such loss like the last 7 weeks in a row?

Nope the narrative about loss and disappointment is still all about us no matter how well we’ve played or tried to change the culture this season. It shits me no end.

 

[innsaneink]

I find all this hoo ha about a kid crying in the crowd a bit strange. I’m sure it happens every weekend, but of course the media latch onto it because it’s one of our fans crying because we played like crap for one week and got smashed, when in reality he’s probably been ecstatic all year because we’re actually having a good season!

Can the media please just let us have a good season for once without trying to intimate that we’re still a crap team that makes our supporters cry? Where are all the shots of the crying Dragons kids who haven’t won a game all year and don’t look likely to win, or the Melbourne ones crying because they have never experienced such loss like the last 7 weeks in a row?

Nope the narrative about loss and disappointment is still all about us no matter how well we’ve played or tried to change the culture this season. It shits me no end.

Tbf the narrative before last week was how we were flying high...everywhere.

 

[Viva_Zapata]

When your winger drops like 6 out of 8 kicks his way, giving them all the possession. U can’t blame everyone else, it’s on Benji. He should have sacrificed a forward rotation to pull Tavana, instead he ruined his career! Not many players can come back from that. Benji has to live with that, it’s on him. Dumb shit coaching

Didn't he take his last bombs well? Not sure how well this comment will age.

 

[Flippedy]

Tbf the narrative before last week was how we were flying high...everywhere.

Yeah true well I guess they had to, but I can’t help feeling they’ve just been waiting for us to fall so they can change the narrative back to the negative, my case in point being with this overblown story after just one bad loss.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Tbf the narrative before last week was how we were flying high...everywhere.

That's how 2 faced the media is these days, heroes to zeros at the flick of a switch, really miss the past when the reporters had soul.

Not anymore, they are like vultures waiting for any sign of death so they can swoop down and feast.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

I find all this hoo ha about a kid crying in the crowd a bit strange. I’m sure it happens every weekend, but of course the media latch onto it because it’s one of our fans crying because we played like crap for one week and got smashed, when in reality he’s probably been ecstatic all year because we’re actually having a good season!

Can the media please just let us have a good season for once without trying to intimate that we’re still a crap team that makes our supporters cry? Where are all the shots of the crying Dragons kids who haven’t won a game all year and don’t look likely to win, or the Melbourne ones crying because they have never experienced such loss like the last 7 weeks in a row?

Nope the narrative about loss and disappointment is still all about us no matter how well we’ve played or tried to change the culture this season. It shits me no end.

I’m still getting withdrawals because nrl360 barely mentioned us after the loss….