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TODD’S BLOG: IT'S ABOUT CONSISTENCY AT TRAINING
28/03/2012 9:26:40 AM
In today's edition of "Todd's Blog", he tells us how pleased he is with the depth that his side is showing at the moment . He also explains how important it is for his team to maintain their consistency at training.
Last week’s training and preparations were the best we’ve had all year. I’d like us to bottle that and keep producing it week in week out.
Consistency at training, more often than not, will produce a consistent performance. We definitely got that on Monday night with our strongest performance so far- a 40-10 win over Canberra.
We had a few new faces come in as well as having to do some re-shuffling with our line up. This usually has a negative impact on the team but it was the complete opposite this time around. I think the new faces brought some extra enthusiasm which must have rubbed off on the rest of the group.
This enthusiasm was also there for the game and it’s something we will need to work hard on if we’re to keep coming up with performances like that.
Our depth at the moment is proving to be a real godsend.
I was forced to move Sitaleki Akaoula from front row to the wing and he handled himself really well. It’s incredibly rare in Rugby League to have a position switch like that and it’s credit to him that he can adapt his skills in order to help out the team in our hour of need.
Connor Toia had to step in at halfback because Jacob Miller was playing first grade and I thought he went well too.
Our entire forward pack, as a unit, had a big game. We always knew Canberra would be a physical side so I told my guys to make sure our aggression and line speed in defence were up to the mark.
We spoke about that and I think we definitely executed our plans. Not only did we build pressure in attack but we also did it with aggressive defence.
It was good all-round performance but the challenge for us now is to maintain it. Monday night’s game will mean nothing if we can’t back it up this week. We have back to back home games coming up and we’ve set the goal to win them both.
We’re now a month into the season and three wins from four matches is a good start but as a coach I’m always going to say that there is room for improvement.
We will always have points in us but I think players can be out of position at times. Whether this be from a tap penalty or a scrum, we are sometimes not in the right place at the right time.
Most of you wouldn’t notice but as a group we’re working hard to make improvements in this area. It’s all about structure and the fluency in how we play. Everyone has a job to do and should fulfil that role. Players need to be accountable at training, read their notes and be switched on in order for us to execute things perfectly. That’s what we’re striving for and it definitely won’t be something that happens overnight.
I know a lot of you are probably feeling frustrated with the way our NRL Squad are playing. Every season, no matter what team you are, there will be highs and lows. You just need to keep working hard, know what you need to do in order to turn it around and then work out how you’re going to do it. You can’t worry about anything else.
It’s not the end of the world and I know the guys will turn it around.
28/03/2012 9:26:40 AM
In today's edition of "Todd's Blog", he tells us how pleased he is with the depth that his side is showing at the moment . He also explains how important it is for his team to maintain their consistency at training.
Last week’s training and preparations were the best we’ve had all year. I’d like us to bottle that and keep producing it week in week out.
Consistency at training, more often than not, will produce a consistent performance. We definitely got that on Monday night with our strongest performance so far- a 40-10 win over Canberra.
We had a few new faces come in as well as having to do some re-shuffling with our line up. This usually has a negative impact on the team but it was the complete opposite this time around. I think the new faces brought some extra enthusiasm which must have rubbed off on the rest of the group.
This enthusiasm was also there for the game and it’s something we will need to work hard on if we’re to keep coming up with performances like that.
Our depth at the moment is proving to be a real godsend.
I was forced to move Sitaleki Akaoula from front row to the wing and he handled himself really well. It’s incredibly rare in Rugby League to have a position switch like that and it’s credit to him that he can adapt his skills in order to help out the team in our hour of need.
Connor Toia had to step in at halfback because Jacob Miller was playing first grade and I thought he went well too.
Our entire forward pack, as a unit, had a big game. We always knew Canberra would be a physical side so I told my guys to make sure our aggression and line speed in defence were up to the mark.
We spoke about that and I think we definitely executed our plans. Not only did we build pressure in attack but we also did it with aggressive defence.
It was good all-round performance but the challenge for us now is to maintain it. Monday night’s game will mean nothing if we can’t back it up this week. We have back to back home games coming up and we’ve set the goal to win them both.
We’re now a month into the season and three wins from four matches is a good start but as a coach I’m always going to say that there is room for improvement.
We will always have points in us but I think players can be out of position at times. Whether this be from a tap penalty or a scrum, we are sometimes not in the right place at the right time.
Most of you wouldn’t notice but as a group we’re working hard to make improvements in this area. It’s all about structure and the fluency in how we play. Everyone has a job to do and should fulfil that role. Players need to be accountable at training, read their notes and be switched on in order for us to execute things perfectly. That’s what we’re striving for and it definitely won’t be something that happens overnight.
I know a lot of you are probably feeling frustrated with the way our NRL Squad are playing. Every season, no matter what team you are, there will be highs and lows. You just need to keep working hard, know what you need to do in order to turn it around and then work out how you’re going to do it. You can’t worry about anything else.
It’s not the end of the world and I know the guys will turn it around.
G
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Guest
TODD’S BLOG: WE’RE PLAYING A LOT SMARTER
4/04/2012 3:30:52 PM
This week, Todd tells us how his team are now playing a lot smarter, especially in the forwards. He also explains how crucial it will be for his side to maintain their intensity as they search for their fifth win.
We’ve now managed four wins in succession and I guess you could say that I’m happy with things at the moment.
We’re second on the ladder and we have the opportunity to make it five wins in a row this week against the Broncos.
We got the two points last Sunday against the Rabbitohs but it definitely wasn’t a clinical performance. We kind of cruised in and out of the game a little and let them get back into it when they had no right to.
This week I’d like to give my forwards a wrap. They are playing a lot smarter, especially in attack.
Running in pairs is something we’ve been working on. Instead of just playing one out, we’re now running to the line with another attacking option which will always keep the defence second guessing. This opens up more possibilities for us when we have the ball. The ball runner won’t have as many defenders committing to him, which means he can either offload or get a quick play the ball. The same would apply to the support player.
Our defence has also been sound and that’s reflected in us having the second best record in the comp, behind leaders Newcastle.
The guys have really bought into what we’re trying to do. We’ve really worked hard on that aspect of our game. The challenge now is to maintain the same intensity we showed against Canberra.
When you win games you start to develop a winning mentality, meaning that when you’re faced with tough situations in matches, you know how to go on and win.
There have been times in the season so far where we’ve been in precarious situations but we’ve been able to work our way out of it.
We worked hard in pre season with some scenario footy. We’d have one team who would be playing as if they were eight points down with ten minutes to go and the other team would be eight points up. I guess this practice is paying dividends now but you also can’t under estimate the value of learning how it’s done in an actual match.
The key thing is that everyone recognises the importance of ball control and field position.
The Broncos will be a tough proposition. The ladder might not reflect it at this stage but I reckon they will be one of the better sides that we face this year.
They’ve lost two in a row and will be desperate to turn it around against us.
I hope none of the guys read too much into our position on the ladder compared with the Broncos. We need to have another good week at training.
It’s a short turnaround so our sessions will be short and sharp. Good preparation and maintaining a high level of intensity will be crucial.
'HAVE YOUR SAY' ON NYC TEAM
RD 6 MATCH DAY INFORMATION
Match Day Schedule
Gates open 5pm
U20s Kick-off 5.15pm
NRL Kick-off 7.30pm
GA tickets for kids for just $5!
4/04/2012 3:30:52 PM
This week, Todd tells us how his team are now playing a lot smarter, especially in the forwards. He also explains how crucial it will be for his side to maintain their intensity as they search for their fifth win.
We’ve now managed four wins in succession and I guess you could say that I’m happy with things at the moment.
We’re second on the ladder and we have the opportunity to make it five wins in a row this week against the Broncos.
We got the two points last Sunday against the Rabbitohs but it definitely wasn’t a clinical performance. We kind of cruised in and out of the game a little and let them get back into it when they had no right to.
This week I’d like to give my forwards a wrap. They are playing a lot smarter, especially in attack.
Running in pairs is something we’ve been working on. Instead of just playing one out, we’re now running to the line with another attacking option which will always keep the defence second guessing. This opens up more possibilities for us when we have the ball. The ball runner won’t have as many defenders committing to him, which means he can either offload or get a quick play the ball. The same would apply to the support player.
Our defence has also been sound and that’s reflected in us having the second best record in the comp, behind leaders Newcastle.
The guys have really bought into what we’re trying to do. We’ve really worked hard on that aspect of our game. The challenge now is to maintain the same intensity we showed against Canberra.
When you win games you start to develop a winning mentality, meaning that when you’re faced with tough situations in matches, you know how to go on and win.
There have been times in the season so far where we’ve been in precarious situations but we’ve been able to work our way out of it.
We worked hard in pre season with some scenario footy. We’d have one team who would be playing as if they were eight points down with ten minutes to go and the other team would be eight points up. I guess this practice is paying dividends now but you also can’t under estimate the value of learning how it’s done in an actual match.
The key thing is that everyone recognises the importance of ball control and field position.
The Broncos will be a tough proposition. The ladder might not reflect it at this stage but I reckon they will be one of the better sides that we face this year.
They’ve lost two in a row and will be desperate to turn it around against us.
I hope none of the guys read too much into our position on the ladder compared with the Broncos. We need to have another good week at training.
It’s a short turnaround so our sessions will be short and sharp. Good preparation and maintaining a high level of intensity will be crucial.
'HAVE YOUR SAY' ON NYC TEAM
RD 6 MATCH DAY INFORMATION
Match Day Schedule
Gates open 5pm
U20s Kick-off 5.15pm
NRL Kick-off 7.30pm
GA tickets for kids for just $5!
G
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TODD’S BLOG: IT WASN’T THE FACT WE LOST.
11/04/2012 9:40:44 AM
Wests Tigers NYC Coach Todd Payten opens up about his team's disappointing loss to the Broncos last Friday night. He tells us how he felt his team were soft and didn't give the opposition enough respect. He also reveals what the team will be doing this week to ensure they bounce back on Sunday against the Panthers.
We put in an extremely disappointing performance last Friday to lose 46-30 to the Broncos. It wasn’t the fact that we lost, it was how we lost.
We were soft. The boys didn’t show them the respect they deserved and we paid the price.
To concede 46 points was poor. All the great work we’d done in defence over the past few weeks had come unstuck. It was real disappointment.
I knew something was up after the first ten minutes although I was trying to convince myself otherwise. We just weren’t there.
There was no enthusiasm, no intent and blokes weren’t using their shoulders in defence.
I say it every week. Defence is all about attitude. You can be just 5% off and it will show.
Despite our subpar performance in the first half, we were still in the game so I stressed the importance of consistency and getting back into the grind.
We were right in it with the score at 22-20 but made some silly mistakes and the next thing we knew, we were down 40-20 and the match had passed us by.
We have to prepare well each week no matter who we play.
I knew the guys were disappointed when we had our video session on Monday. I could see it in their faces.
They now have the opportunity to rectify things this week against the Panthers.
With a longer turnaround, we’ll have the chance to do some more footy specific stuff.
We will be doing a lot of shoulder contact work for our defence and I’ll make sure that the guys really give it to one another.
I’d also like to work on our structure in attack. I think our attack was a little predictable last Friday, especially when you’re running half hearted.
The Panthers will be a tough proposition. They’re coming off four wins in a row so we’ll need to be at our best to beat them.
They have a big mobile pack without many weak links and they are also good defensively.
Halfback Harry Siejka is one of their most influential players so we’ll need to keep him quiet. He has already had a taste of first grade having played a couple of games last year. He takes the line on and also has a good kicking game.
We just need to get back to the basics. Roll our sleeves up in defence and get physical with them.
In attack, it’s all about ball control and field position. We really need to make sure that we complete our sets after scoring points too. Last week, we completed 1 from 3 and we can’t afford to keep doing that in such a tight competition. Expect big improvements from the guys this week.
11/04/2012 9:40:44 AM
Wests Tigers NYC Coach Todd Payten opens up about his team's disappointing loss to the Broncos last Friday night. He tells us how he felt his team were soft and didn't give the opposition enough respect. He also reveals what the team will be doing this week to ensure they bounce back on Sunday against the Panthers.
We put in an extremely disappointing performance last Friday to lose 46-30 to the Broncos. It wasn’t the fact that we lost, it was how we lost.
We were soft. The boys didn’t show them the respect they deserved and we paid the price.
To concede 46 points was poor. All the great work we’d done in defence over the past few weeks had come unstuck. It was real disappointment.
I knew something was up after the first ten minutes although I was trying to convince myself otherwise. We just weren’t there.
There was no enthusiasm, no intent and blokes weren’t using their shoulders in defence.
I say it every week. Defence is all about attitude. You can be just 5% off and it will show.
Despite our subpar performance in the first half, we were still in the game so I stressed the importance of consistency and getting back into the grind.
We were right in it with the score at 22-20 but made some silly mistakes and the next thing we knew, we were down 40-20 and the match had passed us by.
We have to prepare well each week no matter who we play.
I knew the guys were disappointed when we had our video session on Monday. I could see it in their faces.
They now have the opportunity to rectify things this week against the Panthers.
With a longer turnaround, we’ll have the chance to do some more footy specific stuff.
We will be doing a lot of shoulder contact work for our defence and I’ll make sure that the guys really give it to one another.
I’d also like to work on our structure in attack. I think our attack was a little predictable last Friday, especially when you’re running half hearted.
The Panthers will be a tough proposition. They’re coming off four wins in a row so we’ll need to be at our best to beat them.
They have a big mobile pack without many weak links and they are also good defensively.
Halfback Harry Siejka is one of their most influential players so we’ll need to keep him quiet. He has already had a taste of first grade having played a couple of games last year. He takes the line on and also has a good kicking game.
We just need to get back to the basics. Roll our sleeves up in defence and get physical with them.
In attack, it’s all about ball control and field position. We really need to make sure that we complete our sets after scoring points too. Last week, we completed 1 from 3 and we can’t afford to keep doing that in such a tight competition. Expect big improvements from the guys this week.
G
Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
18/04/2012 10:03:15 AM
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten explains in his weekly blog that it will be a tough road ahead for his team.
After a solid performance on Sunday, we currently sit second on the competition ladder after 7 matches which is a great start but we have a tough road ahead.
In the next month or so we’re up against a lot of the top sides. I think by the end of June we should have a better idea of how well we are placed.
Certainly we’ve given ourselves every chance of a top four birth up to this point.
Our concentration will need to improve. We are just not putting in an 80 minute performance at the moment.
Despite a good turn out on Sunday, we again got ourselves into cruise control at different times and we just can’t afford to keep doing that against the good sides.
I know our guys are fit enough so it all boils down to their concentration.
That said I was pleased with Sunday’s result. I had asked for a big improvement in intensity and I got it.
We talked about attitude all week. Guys were coming off the line and hitting the opposition with their shoulders, something that was lacking the week before against the Broncos.
In attack we stayed patient. We never went for the gun play and it paid dividends.
I was also happy with some of the changes I made to our attacking structure.
I moved Manaia Rudolph from five eighth into fullback and Jordan Marshall-King to five eighth.
Jordan is a lot more assertive at six than Manaia is and he also understands our attacking structure extremely well. Manaia really looked the part at fullback too.
He is a good runner of the ball and like a good number one, he understands when to sniff around the ruck and when to be running out wide.
Our regular fullback, Kurtis Rowe, missed the match due to illness. Assuming he’s fit for our next match, I will have a few more decisions to make in terms of the makeup of our backline.
Our halfback, Jacob Miller, had his best game of the year so far.
We had a chat during the week about the importance of his role to the side. I needed him to take charge and make sure everyone was on the same page. He definitely delivered for us.
I’m glad he’s now got the opportunity, along with Matt Groat, to represent NSW in the Under 20s State of Origin match to be played out at Centrebet Stadium this Saturday night.
By Milky’s own standards, he has not been playing fantastic this season but Saturday’s game will now be a good opportunity for him to show his worth on a bigger stage.
It will also be a good chance for Groaty to find his feet and get some confidence back after getting concussed a couple of weeks ago.
18/04/2012 10:03:15 AM
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten explains in his weekly blog that it will be a tough road ahead for his team.
After a solid performance on Sunday, we currently sit second on the competition ladder after 7 matches which is a great start but we have a tough road ahead.
In the next month or so we’re up against a lot of the top sides. I think by the end of June we should have a better idea of how well we are placed.
Certainly we’ve given ourselves every chance of a top four birth up to this point.
Our concentration will need to improve. We are just not putting in an 80 minute performance at the moment.
Despite a good turn out on Sunday, we again got ourselves into cruise control at different times and we just can’t afford to keep doing that against the good sides.
I know our guys are fit enough so it all boils down to their concentration.
That said I was pleased with Sunday’s result. I had asked for a big improvement in intensity and I got it.
We talked about attitude all week. Guys were coming off the line and hitting the opposition with their shoulders, something that was lacking the week before against the Broncos.
In attack we stayed patient. We never went for the gun play and it paid dividends.
I was also happy with some of the changes I made to our attacking structure.
I moved Manaia Rudolph from five eighth into fullback and Jordan Marshall-King to five eighth.
Jordan is a lot more assertive at six than Manaia is and he also understands our attacking structure extremely well. Manaia really looked the part at fullback too.
He is a good runner of the ball and like a good number one, he understands when to sniff around the ruck and when to be running out wide.
Our regular fullback, Kurtis Rowe, missed the match due to illness. Assuming he’s fit for our next match, I will have a few more decisions to make in terms of the makeup of our backline.
Our halfback, Jacob Miller, had his best game of the year so far.
We had a chat during the week about the importance of his role to the side. I needed him to take charge and make sure everyone was on the same page. He definitely delivered for us.
I’m glad he’s now got the opportunity, along with Matt Groat, to represent NSW in the Under 20s State of Origin match to be played out at Centrebet Stadium this Saturday night.
By Milky’s own standards, he has not been playing fantastic this season but Saturday’s game will now be a good opportunity for him to show his worth on a bigger stage.
It will also be a good chance for Groaty to find his feet and get some confidence back after getting concussed a couple of weeks ago.
With it being a Rep Round the guys had the week off to freshen up. I took the opportunity to visit Keebra Park High School for the first time to see some of the kids we’ve earmarked for next year’s 20s squad.
There is an emphasis on finding some big front rowers. It’s tricky as a young kid starting out in this position as you often don’t mature until a lot later.
For those who don’t know, Keebra Park is our main nursery when it comes to producing future Wests Tigers players. Benji went to school there and we now have a number of our current crop of 20s who were also Keebra Park students.
They have a very professional set up and that has definitely rubbed off on the kids. All of the Keebra Park students we’ve had so far are extremely disciplined and their work ethic is outstanding.
This week I will need the guys to be switched on and focused 100%. They had a week off so there should be no excuses.
It’s always hard to hit the ground running after a break but we cannot afford to waste time with any of our sessions through a lack of intensity or drop in concentration.
To overcome that, I shocked the boys back into it with a heavy conditioning session on Monday. We did some fitness and followed that up with some scenario based footy. That was repeated three times to really spark the guys into action and get them thinking about the rest of the week.
Parramatta is a big side so ball control will be crucial again. If we keep the ball and constantly make them play out of their own area it will make it a lot harder for them.
We’re boosted by the return of Jesse Sue. It will be his first comp game of the year so I’m sure he’ll be itching to get out there. He is a man amongst boys and his huge physical presence and experience will be invaluable.
I have decided to leave the Jacob Miller/Jordan Marshall-King halves combination alone as it worked well last time around.
Manaia Rudolph will stay at fullback which means Kurtis Rowe will have to start from the bench.
Kurtis hasn’t done anything wrong; it’s just that Manaia’s performance at the back in our last match against Penrith has kind of forced our hand a little bit.
He has an excellent football brain and his support play against the Panthers was a huge asset to the team. I think he had around 28 or 29 supports which is what I’m looking for from my fullback. He just knows where to be and when to be there.
From now until the end of Origin, teams will be sorting themselves out. I think we’ll know where we really stand by then.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_
There is an emphasis on finding some big front rowers. It’s tricky as a young kid starting out in this position as you often don’t mature until a lot later.
For those who don’t know, Keebra Park is our main nursery when it comes to producing future Wests Tigers players. Benji went to school there and we now have a number of our current crop of 20s who were also Keebra Park students.
They have a very professional set up and that has definitely rubbed off on the kids. All of the Keebra Park students we’ve had so far are extremely disciplined and their work ethic is outstanding.
This week I will need the guys to be switched on and focused 100%. They had a week off so there should be no excuses.
It’s always hard to hit the ground running after a break but we cannot afford to waste time with any of our sessions through a lack of intensity or drop in concentration.
To overcome that, I shocked the boys back into it with a heavy conditioning session on Monday. We did some fitness and followed that up with some scenario based footy. That was repeated three times to really spark the guys into action and get them thinking about the rest of the week.
Parramatta is a big side so ball control will be crucial again. If we keep the ball and constantly make them play out of their own area it will make it a lot harder for them.
We’re boosted by the return of Jesse Sue. It will be his first comp game of the year so I’m sure he’ll be itching to get out there. He is a man amongst boys and his huge physical presence and experience will be invaluable.
I have decided to leave the Jacob Miller/Jordan Marshall-King halves combination alone as it worked well last time around.
Manaia Rudolph will stay at fullback which means Kurtis Rowe will have to start from the bench.
Kurtis hasn’t done anything wrong; it’s just that Manaia’s performance at the back in our last match against Penrith has kind of forced our hand a little bit.
He has an excellent football brain and his support play against the Panthers was a huge asset to the team. I think he had around 28 or 29 supports which is what I’m looking for from my fullback. He just knows where to be and when to be there.
From now until the end of Origin, teams will be sorting themselves out. I think we’ll know where we really stand by then.
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_
G
Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE AND PREPARATION
2/05/2012 9:27:17 AM
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten writes in his weekly blog that it's important for his team to get their preparation spot on this week. He also tells us how pleased he was with last Sunday's performance against Parramatta.
This week, we play the Titans. We’re sitting at the top of the table and they’re sitting at the bottom. Some would say that this match should be an easy win for us but I’m not looking at it that way.
Just like in the NRL, any side on their day can beat anyone. The Titans beat the Broncos easily last Friday and the Broncos beat us so we’ll definitely have to be on our guard this Saturday night.
It all boils down to attitude and preparation. I know I say that every week but this time around we really need everything to be spot on.
We’ll travel to the Gold Coast on the day of the game. I know an hour long flight doesn’t seem like much but that sort of thing can affect your preparation if you let it.
Some of our boys will be leaving home at around 7am to get to the airport on time. By the time we arrive at our hotel, we’ll only have time to have a quick meeting and then we’re on a bus heading to the ground.
There won’t be any down time for the guys so it’s really important that they approach this week as professionally as they can.
Sunday’s game was our most patient performance. In the first half we had six more sets than they did and in the second half we had eight more sets.
We never panicked. Everyone was on the same page and our communication was excellent. The focus was just on controlling possession and wearing them out.
The patience enabled us to blow them away in the end.
Everyone contributed. Our outside backs were really good. Our forwards worked well together and our bench had good impact. It was really pleasing.
We’re looking forward to getting Curtis Sironen back this week. As some of you would know, Curtis played with the side last year but underwent shoulder surgery in the off season. So Saturday’s match will be his first in a while.
He will be an important part of the team as the season wears on. At this stage though, it’s just about clocking up some game time. He’s on the bench this week and we’ll probably look at playing him in our NSW Cup team in the bye week. Hopefully he’ll get through those two run outs and be ready to hit the ground running for a big clash against the Warriors the week after.
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for the first grade games. My role is to pass messages on from Tim (Sheens) to the trainers so the boys are getting the instructions.
It’s something I’ve really enjoyed. Hearing what Tim has to say during games definitely helps me with my own development as a coach.
2/05/2012 9:27:17 AM
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten writes in his weekly blog that it's important for his team to get their preparation spot on this week. He also tells us how pleased he was with last Sunday's performance against Parramatta.
This week, we play the Titans. We’re sitting at the top of the table and they’re sitting at the bottom. Some would say that this match should be an easy win for us but I’m not looking at it that way.
Just like in the NRL, any side on their day can beat anyone. The Titans beat the Broncos easily last Friday and the Broncos beat us so we’ll definitely have to be on our guard this Saturday night.
It all boils down to attitude and preparation. I know I say that every week but this time around we really need everything to be spot on.
We’ll travel to the Gold Coast on the day of the game. I know an hour long flight doesn’t seem like much but that sort of thing can affect your preparation if you let it.
Some of our boys will be leaving home at around 7am to get to the airport on time. By the time we arrive at our hotel, we’ll only have time to have a quick meeting and then we’re on a bus heading to the ground.
There won’t be any down time for the guys so it’s really important that they approach this week as professionally as they can.
Sunday’s game was our most patient performance. In the first half we had six more sets than they did and in the second half we had eight more sets.
We never panicked. Everyone was on the same page and our communication was excellent. The focus was just on controlling possession and wearing them out.
The patience enabled us to blow them away in the end.
Everyone contributed. Our outside backs were really good. Our forwards worked well together and our bench had good impact. It was really pleasing.
We’re looking forward to getting Curtis Sironen back this week. As some of you would know, Curtis played with the side last year but underwent shoulder surgery in the off season. So Saturday’s match will be his first in a while.
He will be an important part of the team as the season wears on. At this stage though, it’s just about clocking up some game time. He’s on the bench this week and we’ll probably look at playing him in our NSW Cup team in the bye week. Hopefully he’ll get through those two run outs and be ready to hit the ground running for a big clash against the Warriors the week after.
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for the first grade games. My role is to pass messages on from Tim (Sheens) to the trainers so the boys are getting the instructions.
It’s something I’ve really enjoyed. Hearing what Tim has to say during games definitely helps me with my own development as a coach.
G
Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: BIG TESTS AWAIT
Wednesday 9 May 2012 9:16 AM
TODD’S BLOG: BIG TESTS AWAIT
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten says that he doesn't want his team to think they're going better than they are. In his weekly blog Todd explains that there are still big tests ahead.
Competition leaders after nine rounds but I’m still not satisfied. We’ve been good without being great and I know there will be tough times ahead.
It’s a long season and we haven’t had many setbacks yet nor have we really been up against high quality opposition. A lot of the games we’ve won have been against under strength teams and without sounding too negative here I just don’t want the guys to think we’re going better than we are.
Big tests await us when we play Newcastle, Warriors, Melbourne, Roosters and Canterbury, all potential top four sides.
It’s a tricky time of the year to maintain your consistency. I always thought the middle of the year was a tough time when I was playing. Your body is always crying out for a spell and the finish line is still a fair way away.
I know we’ll experience a few tough weeks and it will be a big test for all the guys to make sure they have the character to turn it back around.
Saturday night against the Titans was a bit of an arm wrestle at first. In the first 25 minutes or so, we completed 11 from 11 sets but they stuck with us. We got to 18-0 and from that point on, we kind of drifted in and out of the game.
The scoreboard of 34-4 in our favour doesn’t really indicate how the game really went. We weren’t as polished as I would have liked but we did get the win which is the main thing.
Curtis Sironen was back for his first game since a shoulder operation in the off season. He had 20 minutes of game time on Saturday night and will now be better for the run. He was a dominant voice and controlled the side when he was out there. He also set up a try with his first touch.
He’s grown physically since last year and it showed. He was also good at the wrestle when it was time to defend.
Our options in the halves are now really strong. I’ve used a few different combinations that have worked so if we do have any injuries we should be able to cover for it. That’s a great luxury to have.
I’d also like to say how happy I am for the Balmain SG Ball side who won their grand final against the Raiders last Saturday.
It’s the first time in 30 years.
They’re a really talented side who were well coached by Webby (Andrew Webster). What an outstanding achievement.
Five eighth and Man of the Match from last Saturday’s Grand Final, Mitchell Moses, and hooker Manaia Cherrington will now join our squad full time which is a fitting reward for the way they have both played throughout the season so far.
Wednesday 9 May 2012 9:16 AM
TODD’S BLOG: BIG TESTS AWAIT
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten says that he doesn't want his team to think they're going better than they are. In his weekly blog Todd explains that there are still big tests ahead.
Competition leaders after nine rounds but I’m still not satisfied. We’ve been good without being great and I know there will be tough times ahead.
It’s a long season and we haven’t had many setbacks yet nor have we really been up against high quality opposition. A lot of the games we’ve won have been against under strength teams and without sounding too negative here I just don’t want the guys to think we’re going better than we are.
Big tests await us when we play Newcastle, Warriors, Melbourne, Roosters and Canterbury, all potential top four sides.
It’s a tricky time of the year to maintain your consistency. I always thought the middle of the year was a tough time when I was playing. Your body is always crying out for a spell and the finish line is still a fair way away.
I know we’ll experience a few tough weeks and it will be a big test for all the guys to make sure they have the character to turn it back around.
Saturday night against the Titans was a bit of an arm wrestle at first. In the first 25 minutes or so, we completed 11 from 11 sets but they stuck with us. We got to 18-0 and from that point on, we kind of drifted in and out of the game.
The scoreboard of 34-4 in our favour doesn’t really indicate how the game really went. We weren’t as polished as I would have liked but we did get the win which is the main thing.
Curtis Sironen was back for his first game since a shoulder operation in the off season. He had 20 minutes of game time on Saturday night and will now be better for the run. He was a dominant voice and controlled the side when he was out there. He also set up a try with his first touch.
He’s grown physically since last year and it showed. He was also good at the wrestle when it was time to defend.
Our options in the halves are now really strong. I’ve used a few different combinations that have worked so if we do have any injuries we should be able to cover for it. That’s a great luxury to have.
I’d also like to say how happy I am for the Balmain SG Ball side who won their grand final against the Raiders last Saturday.
It’s the first time in 30 years.
They’re a really talented side who were well coached by Webby (Andrew Webster). What an outstanding achievement.
Five eighth and Man of the Match from last Saturday’s Grand Final, Mitchell Moses, and hooker Manaia Cherrington will now join our squad full time which is a fitting reward for the way they have both played throughout the season so far.
G
Guest
Guest
TODD'S BLOG: DEFENDING PREMIERS SHOULD BRING OUT THE BEST IN US
Wednesday 16 May 2012 9:05 AM
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Under 20s Coach Todd Payten says that his team should be up for contest this Friday night against the defending Premiers. Read his weekly blog below.
Friday night’s game will be tough in every sense of the word. We’re coming off the bye and after a long weekend off, there’s not a lot of time to get back into the swing of things.
The Warriors have size right across the park and while they don’t play with a lot of structure, they’ll look to out muscle you.
We’ll need to play smart and control possession. We know that we’ll cop a hit or two in the process but as long as we stick to our guns, I’m confident we’ll still come out on top.
The Warriors side are sitting just one point behind us on the ladder so it should be a great test for us.
They have some real size about them, particularly up front. One of their backrowers, John Palavi is a very strong kid. He has had 45 tackle breaks in the competition so far. I’ll be looking to the likes of Jesse Sue and Joel Luani to put in strong performances defensively to stop him.
Their hooker Siliva Havili likes to run a lot and with their big forwards marching up the field, he takes advantage of this forward momentum.
While their size is a big strength it can also be a weakness. We will just need to stick with them and things should open up for us later on in the game.
Last week, we only trained Tuesday and Thursday. I really gave them a hard work out on the Thursday seeing as though they were getting an extended break.
It was good for all of us to take some time to freshen up. I think you need that as a player and as a coach.
When I was playing it was just about getting away from football. I’d often go back home to Temora to recharge the batteries.
Now that we’re back, we all need to focus and prepare as best we can.
To slide back into things this week, I gave the guys a bit of a work out on Monday with some contact and wrestle work. Yesterday was all football stuff with a video preview and tomorrow will be a short ball session but it will be intense.
It’s going to be a physical contest so we need to get our heads around that. Our minds need to be switched on and focused on playing footy again.
I expect our guys to be up for this contest. We’re coming up against the defending premiers on a Friday night at Leichhardt Oval so if we can’t get up for this, we can’t get up for anything.
Wednesday 16 May 2012 9:05 AM
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Under 20s Coach Todd Payten says that his team should be up for contest this Friday night against the defending Premiers. Read his weekly blog below.
Friday night’s game will be tough in every sense of the word. We’re coming off the bye and after a long weekend off, there’s not a lot of time to get back into the swing of things.
The Warriors have size right across the park and while they don’t play with a lot of structure, they’ll look to out muscle you.
We’ll need to play smart and control possession. We know that we’ll cop a hit or two in the process but as long as we stick to our guns, I’m confident we’ll still come out on top.
The Warriors side are sitting just one point behind us on the ladder so it should be a great test for us.
They have some real size about them, particularly up front. One of their backrowers, John Palavi is a very strong kid. He has had 45 tackle breaks in the competition so far. I’ll be looking to the likes of Jesse Sue and Joel Luani to put in strong performances defensively to stop him.
Their hooker Siliva Havili likes to run a lot and with their big forwards marching up the field, he takes advantage of this forward momentum.
While their size is a big strength it can also be a weakness. We will just need to stick with them and things should open up for us later on in the game.
Last week, we only trained Tuesday and Thursday. I really gave them a hard work out on the Thursday seeing as though they were getting an extended break.
It was good for all of us to take some time to freshen up. I think you need that as a player and as a coach.
When I was playing it was just about getting away from football. I’d often go back home to Temora to recharge the batteries.
Now that we’re back, we all need to focus and prepare as best we can.
To slide back into things this week, I gave the guys a bit of a work out on Monday with some contact and wrestle work. Yesterday was all football stuff with a video preview and tomorrow will be a short ball session but it will be intense.
It’s going to be a physical contest so we need to get our heads around that. Our minds need to be switched on and focused on playing footy again.
I expect our guys to be up for this contest. We’re coming up against the defending premiers on a Friday night at Leichhardt Oval so if we can’t get up for this, we can’t get up for anything.
G
Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: IT WAS OUR MOST POLISHED PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 23 May 2012 11:41 AM
Courtesy of Wayne Cousins and the official Wests Tigers website
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten said that last Friday’s 54-12 win against last year’s Premiers, the Warrriors, was their most polished performance of the year. In his weekly blog, Todd explains the reasons behind the win and also highlights his key performers.
The weekend’s game was without doubt our most polished performance of the year.
I don’t think anyone has put 50 points on the Warriors since the inception of the Toyota Cup. We played tough and we played very smart.
The Warriors are a big physical side. They try to out muscle you. Most teams do not have the capabilities to stick with them for the whole 80 minutes in either concentration or physicality.
Our game plan in attack was to match them with aggression and control. Sides that turn over cheap possession get blown away with their ability to offload and score points. We had planned to go set for set with them at the very least.
In the first half alone we completed 17 from 21 sets and forced two line dropouts. We played smart and built pressure and as a result had six extra sets than them. That type of patience pays dividends late in the game.
Another ploy of ours was to work their big forwards over by making repeat efforts and then making decisions on the back of that while fatigued. You can do that by working together in pairs. Pushing up on each play and using different ruck plays looking to isolate the same big man for two or more tackles each set. Doing this effectively makes the big guys lethargic and it takes a lot of sting out of them when they have the ball. Everyone played their role well.
Defensively we knew we were in for a physical contest. Our team goal for the match was line speed and aggression. I thought that this we did this well all game. We got in their face and stopped the bigger pack from getting a roll on and also cut down the decision making time of their playmakers.
We spoke about their ability to offload the ball throughout their side and in fact the majority of their line breaks and tries in games this year were a result of an offload earlier in the play. They only got four offloads the whole match and we were able to gain the ball back on three occasions because of our tenacity around the ball carrier- Another really pleasing facet of our defence.
Across the park I felt we all made strong contributions. Curtis Sironen received the Players’ Player award. He had some classy touches, scored a good solo try to start us rolling and provided a real dominant voice on the field with direction particularly on the left side.
Asipeli Fine got our Coaches’ Award just from Sauaso Sue. Asipeli was strong in attack and came up with some great reads defensively. Sauaso has gone from strength to strength in the three games he has played since returning from injury. He came up with some very powerful runs and proved a real handful every time he touched the ball. Defensively he was just as good. Manaia Rudolph also played strongly and is making the fullback role his own. It’s hard to believe he has played very little time at the back before the last few rounds.
A good win on Friday night allowed us an opportunity to get together on the Saturday for lunch. It is a good chance for me to get to know the guys on a social level which I believe is very important. Being away from training they don’t tend to be as guarded. Having a good bond amongst the group is a key component in all good teams. I must say that our boys are very tight and it’s showing at the moment.
The boys got a real kick out of playing at Leichhardt to a decent crowd and knowing that we have quite a few Western Suburbs juniors they are itching to get out to Campbelltown for Sunday’s game. If you can get there early please do as all the support is well received and gives the boys a real buzz!
Wednesday 23 May 2012 11:41 AM
Courtesy of Wayne Cousins and the official Wests Tigers website
Under 20s Coach Todd Payten said that last Friday’s 54-12 win against last year’s Premiers, the Warrriors, was their most polished performance of the year. In his weekly blog, Todd explains the reasons behind the win and also highlights his key performers.
The weekend’s game was without doubt our most polished performance of the year.
I don’t think anyone has put 50 points on the Warriors since the inception of the Toyota Cup. We played tough and we played very smart.
The Warriors are a big physical side. They try to out muscle you. Most teams do not have the capabilities to stick with them for the whole 80 minutes in either concentration or physicality.
Our game plan in attack was to match them with aggression and control. Sides that turn over cheap possession get blown away with their ability to offload and score points. We had planned to go set for set with them at the very least.
In the first half alone we completed 17 from 21 sets and forced two line dropouts. We played smart and built pressure and as a result had six extra sets than them. That type of patience pays dividends late in the game.
Another ploy of ours was to work their big forwards over by making repeat efforts and then making decisions on the back of that while fatigued. You can do that by working together in pairs. Pushing up on each play and using different ruck plays looking to isolate the same big man for two or more tackles each set. Doing this effectively makes the big guys lethargic and it takes a lot of sting out of them when they have the ball. Everyone played their role well.
Defensively we knew we were in for a physical contest. Our team goal for the match was line speed and aggression. I thought that this we did this well all game. We got in their face and stopped the bigger pack from getting a roll on and also cut down the decision making time of their playmakers.
We spoke about their ability to offload the ball throughout their side and in fact the majority of their line breaks and tries in games this year were a result of an offload earlier in the play. They only got four offloads the whole match and we were able to gain the ball back on three occasions because of our tenacity around the ball carrier- Another really pleasing facet of our defence.
Across the park I felt we all made strong contributions. Curtis Sironen received the Players’ Player award. He had some classy touches, scored a good solo try to start us rolling and provided a real dominant voice on the field with direction particularly on the left side.
Asipeli Fine got our Coaches’ Award just from Sauaso Sue. Asipeli was strong in attack and came up with some great reads defensively. Sauaso has gone from strength to strength in the three games he has played since returning from injury. He came up with some very powerful runs and proved a real handful every time he touched the ball. Defensively he was just as good. Manaia Rudolph also played strongly and is making the fullback role his own. It’s hard to believe he has played very little time at the back before the last few rounds.
A good win on Friday night allowed us an opportunity to get together on the Saturday for lunch. It is a good chance for me to get to know the guys on a social level which I believe is very important. Being away from training they don’t tend to be as guarded. Having a good bond amongst the group is a key component in all good teams. I must say that our boys are very tight and it’s showing at the moment.
The boys got a real kick out of playing at Leichhardt to a decent crowd and knowing that we have quite a few Western Suburbs juniors they are itching to get out to Campbelltown for Sunday’s game. If you can get there early please do as all the support is well received and gives the boys a real buzz!
G
Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: WE WERE BRAIN DEAD
Wednesday 30 May 2012 3:53 PM
Under 20s coach, Todd Payten, says his side were brain dead in their 38-36 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. In his weekly blog, Todd says that the team will now have their work cut out this Saturday when they take on the competition leaders.
This week was a real reality check for all of us. It was a very disappointing result on the back of all the good work we had done in the previous month.
We said and did all the right things through the week but failed to produce it at the most important time. We were disappointing in a lot of areas. I can’t say one positive thing about our defence. We lacked intensity and intent. We had no line speed and constantly lost the ruck.
Our attack wasn't much better either. You may question that statement as we scored 36 points but at times we looked directionless which I think was partly attributed to the fact we were punching holes through them and that set us away from our structure.
But the fact that a lot of our runs were one out with no support indicates to me a lack of energy along with tired and selfish decisions. We scored two fortunate tries from kicks and one burrow over from dummy half in our tally so I think we were a little lucky to score that many.
Another indicator to me that we weren’t switched on was that we had three early scrums and put in sets that haven’t been practised. Two of them started from midfield which is a terrific place to attack from. That also shows me that we were brain dead.
It isn’t acceptable because here at the Tigers the set piece is a trademark of ours. Other Clubs try to copy us in this facet of the game.
On a more positive note I thought our right centre, Asipeli Fine, was a standout for us. Once again, his defence was terrific with several good reads and he was also powerful in attack.
Asipeli came to us from the Roosters via a mid season transfer. He got his chance through injury and after a shaky first up performance, he’s improved each week to be our best performer over the past fortnight.
Another strong performer was David Nofoaluma. David sustained a knee injury during the match but was still able to finish the game which shows his toughness. Unfortunately he will now be out until around Round 18.
One good thing about footy is that there is only a week between games and a chance to make up for a poor performance. I know the guys will be keen to do that as I could see they were just as disappointed as I was after the game.
Wednesday 30 May 2012 3:53 PM
Under 20s coach, Todd Payten, says his side were brain dead in their 38-36 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. In his weekly blog, Todd says that the team will now have their work cut out this Saturday when they take on the competition leaders.
This week was a real reality check for all of us. It was a very disappointing result on the back of all the good work we had done in the previous month.
We said and did all the right things through the week but failed to produce it at the most important time. We were disappointing in a lot of areas. I can’t say one positive thing about our defence. We lacked intensity and intent. We had no line speed and constantly lost the ruck.
Our attack wasn't much better either. You may question that statement as we scored 36 points but at times we looked directionless which I think was partly attributed to the fact we were punching holes through them and that set us away from our structure.
But the fact that a lot of our runs were one out with no support indicates to me a lack of energy along with tired and selfish decisions. We scored two fortunate tries from kicks and one burrow over from dummy half in our tally so I think we were a little lucky to score that many.
Another indicator to me that we weren’t switched on was that we had three early scrums and put in sets that haven’t been practised. Two of them started from midfield which is a terrific place to attack from. That also shows me that we were brain dead.
It isn’t acceptable because here at the Tigers the set piece is a trademark of ours. Other Clubs try to copy us in this facet of the game.
On a more positive note I thought our right centre, Asipeli Fine, was a standout for us. Once again, his defence was terrific with several good reads and he was also powerful in attack.
Asipeli came to us from the Roosters via a mid season transfer. He got his chance through injury and after a shaky first up performance, he’s improved each week to be our best performer over the past fortnight.
Another strong performer was David Nofoaluma. David sustained a knee injury during the match but was still able to finish the game which shows his toughness. Unfortunately he will now be out until around Round 18.
One good thing about footy is that there is only a week between games and a chance to make up for a poor performance. I know the guys will be keen to do that as I could see they were just as disappointed as I was after the game.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
payten focuses a lot on decoy runners and runners running all over the park. all NRL teams have been lacking that imo. Good read as always.
The_Phantom
Active member
Love Todd's approach to the game.wish my son was being coached by him.I find it very interesting reading his posts each week .could develope into a very good NRL coach in the future.
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Guest
Guest
TODD’S BLOG: TOUGH BUT SATISFYING
Wednesday 6 June 2012 3:11 PM
Head Coach Todd Payten described last week’s 15-6 win over the Raiders as the most satisfying win of the year. Read the rest of his weekly blog below.
The weekend’s performance for me was the most satisfying win of the year.
We did things the hard way and won the game with some rugged defence and determination.
I was proud of the way we dug in and really worked hard for one another.
They attacked our line for several sets in the first 15 minutes but we were able to hold them out with some great scrambling defence. In the first part of the game, we had completed two from five sets, putting ourselves under pressure but from there we completed the next 13 sets to go in at half time 12 nil up.
Conditions didn't really suit either side’s attacking style of play but we rolled our sleeves up and played smart. We did this by completing our sets and playing for strong field position.
We didn't throw a great deal at them but we stuck to the game plan, which was to get at their half-back and two big front rowers as much as we could.
Our two tries were scored from kicks, which you might say was fortuitous but we earned the right to be down that end of the field. We built enough pressure and with the wet conditions, we got the results we were looking for.
The second half was a dour struggle as the conditions deteriorated. I must say that the game was of a pretty high standard considering the conditions. It was an intense game with a fair bit of feeling from both sides.
I thought we were able to get on top of them in the last 20 minutes even though they had the running of the play. I believe that it was through our superior fitness that we were able to hang in there and come away with the result. Credit has to go to Balin Cupples, my strength and conditioning coach, who has had the guys fighting fit since our first trial.
I thought everyone contributed well on the weekend. Jacob Miller won our Coaches’ award and Players’ player. He led the side around with great authority.
Nathan Brown stood up to the big Canberra pack and took our guys off the line which I like.
Kyle Lovett had a big game too. He was forced to move to the bench due to the inclusion of Matt Groat who was returning from injury but he didn’t let that bother him one iota. His preparation and performance on Saturday is testament to his maturity and professionalism. He played all but four minutes in the second half and got through a mountain of work.
Asipeli Fine performed strongly again and it was Jordan Marshall-King’s best game for us. His defence was much improved and kept them guessing with some good options in attack.
Wednesday 6 June 2012 3:11 PM
Head Coach Todd Payten described last week’s 15-6 win over the Raiders as the most satisfying win of the year. Read the rest of his weekly blog below.
The weekend’s performance for me was the most satisfying win of the year.
We did things the hard way and won the game with some rugged defence and determination.
I was proud of the way we dug in and really worked hard for one another.
They attacked our line for several sets in the first 15 minutes but we were able to hold them out with some great scrambling defence. In the first part of the game, we had completed two from five sets, putting ourselves under pressure but from there we completed the next 13 sets to go in at half time 12 nil up.
Conditions didn't really suit either side’s attacking style of play but we rolled our sleeves up and played smart. We did this by completing our sets and playing for strong field position.
We didn't throw a great deal at them but we stuck to the game plan, which was to get at their half-back and two big front rowers as much as we could.
Our two tries were scored from kicks, which you might say was fortuitous but we earned the right to be down that end of the field. We built enough pressure and with the wet conditions, we got the results we were looking for.
The second half was a dour struggle as the conditions deteriorated. I must say that the game was of a pretty high standard considering the conditions. It was an intense game with a fair bit of feeling from both sides.
I thought we were able to get on top of them in the last 20 minutes even though they had the running of the play. I believe that it was through our superior fitness that we were able to hang in there and come away with the result. Credit has to go to Balin Cupples, my strength and conditioning coach, who has had the guys fighting fit since our first trial.
I thought everyone contributed well on the weekend. Jacob Miller won our Coaches’ award and Players’ player. He led the side around with great authority.
Nathan Brown stood up to the big Canberra pack and took our guys off the line which I like.
Kyle Lovett had a big game too. He was forced to move to the bench due to the inclusion of Matt Groat who was returning from injury but he didn’t let that bother him one iota. His preparation and performance on Saturday is testament to his maturity and professionalism. He played all but four minutes in the second half and got through a mountain of work.
Asipeli Fine performed strongly again and it was Jordan Marshall-King’s best game for us. His defence was much improved and kept them guessing with some good options in attack.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
i remember a couple of guys saying in the FG forum that Miller did not perform well enough. here he won the coach's and players' player awards. really wanna see this guy get a good game in FG.
Blackpearl
New member
the 20's are just great to watch, plenty of skill,power and speed across the side. imo, in a couple of years todd should be the next cab of the rank as coach of the first gde after tim sheens tenure.
