Jason Taylor intends to gamble on youth in his second coming as an NRL coach at the Tigers
JAMES HOOPER
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
FEBRUARY 08, 2015 12:00AM
ARMED with one of the most exciting young rosters in the NRL, Jason Taylor intends to gamble on youth in his second coming as an NRL coach.
It’s a blueprint which has seen South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm all crowned premiers over the past three seasons, balancing experienced stars with emerging talent.
Preparing to embark on the Tigers’ first NRL trial match in Alice Springs next weekend, Taylor opened up about his first three months at the helm of the previously divided club.
Appointed in October and given scope to make changes, Taylor has spent the off-season designing a game plan to ensure the flamboyant Tigers show greater control.
The new coach is confident of having a defensive system to suit Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks.
Brooks missed 105 tackles last season, the most of any NRL player, as opposition teams isolated and exposed the rookie No.7.
“The biggest thing from our perspective is the defensive structure itself. First and foremost, anyone who’s going to run on to an NRL field needs to be able to put their hand up and make their tackles,” Taylor said. “But we also want to provide those guys with plenty of support in relation to the structure around them.
“I’ve watched a lot of the tries that were scored against the guys last year, particularly the ones where Luke Brooks was isolated, and we just want to be able to do that better.
“We need to give the boys support in terms of structure, hopefully meaning they’re isolated less often. A small guy with bad technique is going to struggle big time. A small guy with good technique will make most of his tackles.”
Aside from Brooks, Moses, James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, and Curtis Sironen, the Tigers will be forced to turn to some of the NRL’s next generation after losing more than 700 games worth of first-grade experience.
Gone are the likes of Adam Blair, Braith Anasta, Liam Fulton, Bodene Thompson and Blake Austin, with unsung rookies Matt Lodge, Lamar Liolevavae, Jesse Sue, Sitaleki Akauola and Nathan Brown now fighting for positions.
In recent seasons, South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm have nailed the blueprint on how to balance exciting young talent with established NRL stars.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into changing a lot and I’m confident people who’ve followed us over the last couple of years will see a very different team,” Taylor said.
“We’re intending to play with a lot more control.
“We’re confident in the roster we’ve got and there’s some genuine uncertainty about where we can get to. We don’t need to be too worried about where we might be at the end of the season.
“I just want us to be a better side at the start of this season than we were at the end of last year. It’s important that we play a style of footy that allows our key players to play their best footy.
“It’s one thing to have a number of creative players in key positions but it’s also important that they all feel they can contribute.”
Taylor showed he was prepared to make tough decisions, sacking club legends John Skandalis, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen and Todd Payten from the club’s football department staff inside his first fortnight in the job.
Intent on putting an end to the club’s injury curse, Taylor and his new support staff have overhauled the club’s preparation, from the way the team trains to how players recover as well.
Rather than rush fullback Tedesco back against the Eels in Alice Springs next Saturday, Taylor will instead aim at the trial against the Cronulla Sharks at Campbelltown on February 21 for his return from a fractured knee cap.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into all of the guys who’ve been injured. There’s been a big focus on getting them back to full fitness,” Taylor said. “Teddy has pushed ahead of schedule over the last few weeks but I’m not going to rush him for the Alice Springs trial. We’re looking at giving him some game time in the Cronulla trial in another fortnight and then assess how he’s going.
“If he gets through that then he will be a chance for round one. It’s looking more likely this week than it was a couple of weeks ago.”
The Tigers era under Taylor will officially begin in Alice Springs next Friday night.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/jason-taylor-intends-to-gamble-on-youth-in-his-second-coming-as-an-nrl-coach-at-the-tigers/story-fni3gpz1-1227211669416?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20dailytelegraphnrlndm%20%28Daily%20Telegraph%20%7C%20NRL%29
JAMES HOOPER
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
FEBRUARY 08, 2015 12:00AM
ARMED with one of the most exciting young rosters in the NRL, Jason Taylor intends to gamble on youth in his second coming as an NRL coach.
It’s a blueprint which has seen South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm all crowned premiers over the past three seasons, balancing experienced stars with emerging talent.
Preparing to embark on the Tigers’ first NRL trial match in Alice Springs next weekend, Taylor opened up about his first three months at the helm of the previously divided club.
Appointed in October and given scope to make changes, Taylor has spent the off-season designing a game plan to ensure the flamboyant Tigers show greater control.
The new coach is confident of having a defensive system to suit Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks.
Brooks missed 105 tackles last season, the most of any NRL player, as opposition teams isolated and exposed the rookie No.7.
“The biggest thing from our perspective is the defensive structure itself. First and foremost, anyone who’s going to run on to an NRL field needs to be able to put their hand up and make their tackles,” Taylor said. “But we also want to provide those guys with plenty of support in relation to the structure around them.
“I’ve watched a lot of the tries that were scored against the guys last year, particularly the ones where Luke Brooks was isolated, and we just want to be able to do that better.
“We need to give the boys support in terms of structure, hopefully meaning they’re isolated less often. A small guy with bad technique is going to struggle big time. A small guy with good technique will make most of his tackles.”
Aside from Brooks, Moses, James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, and Curtis Sironen, the Tigers will be forced to turn to some of the NRL’s next generation after losing more than 700 games worth of first-grade experience.
Gone are the likes of Adam Blair, Braith Anasta, Liam Fulton, Bodene Thompson and Blake Austin, with unsung rookies Matt Lodge, Lamar Liolevavae, Jesse Sue, Sitaleki Akauola and Nathan Brown now fighting for positions.
In recent seasons, South Sydney, the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm have nailed the blueprint on how to balance exciting young talent with established NRL stars.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into changing a lot and I’m confident people who’ve followed us over the last couple of years will see a very different team,” Taylor said.
“We’re intending to play with a lot more control.
“We’re confident in the roster we’ve got and there’s some genuine uncertainty about where we can get to. We don’t need to be too worried about where we might be at the end of the season.
“I just want us to be a better side at the start of this season than we were at the end of last year. It’s important that we play a style of footy that allows our key players to play their best footy.
“It’s one thing to have a number of creative players in key positions but it’s also important that they all feel they can contribute.”
Taylor showed he was prepared to make tough decisions, sacking club legends John Skandalis, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen and Todd Payten from the club’s football department staff inside his first fortnight in the job.
Intent on putting an end to the club’s injury curse, Taylor and his new support staff have overhauled the club’s preparation, from the way the team trains to how players recover as well.
Rather than rush fullback Tedesco back against the Eels in Alice Springs next Saturday, Taylor will instead aim at the trial against the Cronulla Sharks at Campbelltown on February 21 for his return from a fractured knee cap.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into all of the guys who’ve been injured. There’s been a big focus on getting them back to full fitness,” Taylor said. “Teddy has pushed ahead of schedule over the last few weeks but I’m not going to rush him for the Alice Springs trial. We’re looking at giving him some game time in the Cronulla trial in another fortnight and then assess how he’s going.
“If he gets through that then he will be a chance for round one. It’s looking more likely this week than it was a couple of weeks ago.”
The Tigers era under Taylor will officially begin in Alice Springs next Friday night.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/jason-taylor-intends-to-gamble-on-youth-in-his-second-coming-as-an-nrl-coach-at-the-tigers/story-fni3gpz1-1227211669416?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20dailytelegraphnrlndm%20%28Daily%20Telegraph%20%7C%20NRL%29
