Tuqiri confident Tigers can roar

[Tiger_Watto]

By Ian McCullough AAP Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:23:49
Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri is convinced the joint venture have the players and the coaching staff to repeat their 2005 NRL premiership success.

Tuqiri, along with Benji Marshall and captain Robbie Farah, has been ever present this season, marking a successful return to league following his eight-year stint in rugby.

And the 31-year-old former dual international believes his decision to join the Tigers has been vindicated, with the club finishing third on the ladder and reaching the finals for the first time in five years.

"I came here to play and be successful and I think we have done that and I guess this season proves the boys can go a long way," Tuqiri said.

"I could see the potential in this team when I joined and the guys have shown that.

"I have scored a few tries, stayed injury free and played some enjoyable footy."

The Tigers face Sydney Roosters on Saturday at the Sydney Football Stadium in a mouth-watering encounter that is expected to be watched by a sell-out crowd of over 40,000.

Brian Smith's men have won both encounters between the two teams this year and although Tuqiri is wary of the threat of Roosters playmakers Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce, he believes the Tigers are good enough to win.

"They have beaten us twice this year and they have in Pearce and Carney two guys that lead them around the pitch well, but finals footy is completely different," he said.

"There is a good mix between young and old here and we are quite strong. There is a lot of traits here of a side that can go a long way and there is positive feeling about the place."

Tuqiri also believes the experience of veteran coach Tim Sheens, who has won four premierships, will be crucial to the side.

"Having a coach with as many premierships he has won is great for us, he knows what to do this time of the year and along with all the coaching staff.

"It is just a case of going over what and what not to do, we had a good meeting yesterday and everyone around the place is feeling good and looking forward to Saturday."

 

[Guest]

Finals nothing new for success story Tuqiri
Chris Barrett
September 8, 2010

Lote Tuqiri's decision to sign with the Tigers may be about to pay dividends in the coming NRL finals series, writes Chris Barrett.

Throughout his career as an NRL footballer, Lote Tuqiri has never played in a team that failed to make the semi-finals. Sounds mighty impressive.

Of course, with a little further inspection of his code-hopping background, the gravitas of that fun fact is slightly diluted, much like the Wests Tigers' spotless finals record (they have, after all, only played in four post-season games, all in 2005).

However, with reminiscing of the Tigers' run to the premiership five years ago an inevitable feature in the lead-up to their qualifying final against the Sydney Roosters at the SFS on Saturday night, it should not be forgotten that the half-dozen survivors from that fairytale are not the only members of this side to experience grand final glory.

In what seems like a past life Tuqiri, too, basked under the celebratory confetti at what was then known as Stadium Australia as a title winner with Brisbane in 2000, after scoring the first try in a 14-6 defeat of the Roosters. His recollection is of a Broncos team that was virtually unstoppable … and of a slightly more modest hairstyle.

''The dreads weren't there,'' the 30-year-old said. ''I just remember being ultra-confident in the team that I was in and the players around me.

''I remember looking at our team on paper and thinking 'We can't be beaten here'. There were guys like Dell [Wendell Sailor] and Kevvie Walters, Brad Thorn and Gorden Tallis - you name it, it was an awesome team.''

If Tuqiri does not see quite the same degree of invincibility when he looks, a decade later, at the Wests Tigers line-up, he sees endless possibility. He would not have chosen the club as his portal back into rugby league - completed by his move from English rugby's Leicester Tigers in March - if he did not believe it was capable of providing him with another premiership in his second incarnation as an NRL player. ''When I was going over who to play for I thought the Tigers have a lot of potential,'' said Tuqiri, who has played all 24 games this year, scoring 15 tries. ''We've shown it this year and I think we've got a lot more to show hopefully over the next couple of weeks.

''The main [attraction] was enjoyment but I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think this team had the potential to win the competition. It's not justified just yet but the boys have had a really good year.''

When the Herald spoke with Tuqiri from England in March, just before his final game in the Guinness Premiership, the winger talked about the appeal of playing outside five-eighth Benji Marshall, who had just signed a four-year contract extension. He also noted, though from afar, that the Tigers could not simply rely on the brand of caution-to-the-wind entertainment for which they were known.

''You can score all the tries in the world but the one thing they really need to pick up is their defence,'' Tuqiri said.

Yesterday, on reflection, he concluded that Tim Sheens's side had established ''a good mix''. ''I think in the past they've probably played a bit too open at times when they probably could have played a bit more controlled footy,'' he said.

''It's been a testament to how this team's mindset has changed over, I guess, the last 12 months. Although it does look like it's off the cuff we do try a lot of that stuff at training. The guys like Benji and Robbie [Farah] and Robbie Lui have licences to throw long balls but we also do like to play it tough at times and I think that's been a good mix this year for the Tigers.''

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

Must admit , the last 3 game Lote has changed his approach , he is going for the ball instead of waiting for it..
That take in ingoal against storm was something he wasnt going for midway of the season , he was happy to let it bounce or someone else go for it.. He has also saved a couple of tries with near intercepts , they have been knock-ons but alteast not tries .. So if Lote can roar so can the rest of the tigerr !!