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Tigers keen to forget Bulldogs loss
Joe Barton - SMH
March 15, 2011 - 5:34PM
AAP
Wests Tigers players insist their season-opening loss to the Bulldogs is merely a blip ahead of a successful NRL season.
The Tigers, touted as title contenders after a promising 2010 and with a roster brimming with representative talent, stumbled out of the blocks with a below par showing against a vastly improved Bulldogs outfit.
But senior Tigers Keith Galloway and Wade McKinnon believe the 24-14 loss is just a speed bump, and they're determined to turn it around against the Warriors on Saturday night.
"(It's) definitely not (the best start), we probably didn't play as well as we wanted to but it's only round one and we've got a chance to rectify it (against the Warriors)," Galloway said on Tuesday.
"… things just didn't seem to go our way. That's football.
"We tried to hold onto (the ball) and build momentum, but it wasn't to be."
Fullback McKinnon does not believe the Tigers were hampered by the pre-season hype.
"Nah, not really. I don't think anyone was thinking about that, we were just thinking about the game and out there playing," McKinnon explained.
"Unfortunately it didn't go our way.
"Not the best start to the season. But there's still a long way to go and it's only the first game, we'll put that behind us and look forward."
Coach Tim Sheens appeared slightly more concerned than his players, holding a three-hour session with his coaching staff to break down what went wrong before an afternoon video analysis with the team.
The Tigers will need to produce a turnaround without versatile backrower Liam Fulton, who will miss the game through injury, but will welcome back Bryce Gibbs (knee).
Galloway said Gibbs' defensive workload around the ruck was sorely missed as the Tigers struggled with a big Bulldogs forward pack.
"We probably missed his linespeed and definitely his dominance around the ruck in defence," he said.
Joe Barton - SMH
March 15, 2011 - 5:34PM
AAP
Wests Tigers players insist their season-opening loss to the Bulldogs is merely a blip ahead of a successful NRL season.
The Tigers, touted as title contenders after a promising 2010 and with a roster brimming with representative talent, stumbled out of the blocks with a below par showing against a vastly improved Bulldogs outfit.
But senior Tigers Keith Galloway and Wade McKinnon believe the 24-14 loss is just a speed bump, and they're determined to turn it around against the Warriors on Saturday night.
"(It's) definitely not (the best start), we probably didn't play as well as we wanted to but it's only round one and we've got a chance to rectify it (against the Warriors)," Galloway said on Tuesday.
"… things just didn't seem to go our way. That's football.
"We tried to hold onto (the ball) and build momentum, but it wasn't to be."
Fullback McKinnon does not believe the Tigers were hampered by the pre-season hype.
"Nah, not really. I don't think anyone was thinking about that, we were just thinking about the game and out there playing," McKinnon explained.
"Unfortunately it didn't go our way.
"Not the best start to the season. But there's still a long way to go and it's only the first game, we'll put that behind us and look forward."
Coach Tim Sheens appeared slightly more concerned than his players, holding a three-hour session with his coaching staff to break down what went wrong before an afternoon video analysis with the team.
The Tigers will need to produce a turnaround without versatile backrower Liam Fulton, who will miss the game through injury, but will welcome back Bryce Gibbs (knee).
Galloway said Gibbs' defensive workload around the ruck was sorely missed as the Tigers struggled with a big Bulldogs forward pack.
"We probably missed his linespeed and definitely his dominance around the ruck in defence," he said.
