Tigers' forwards under pressure, not rookie halves: coach Jason Taylor
Date
January 23, 2015
Michael Carayannis
Rugby League Writer
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While much of the spotlight shines on his rookie halves, new Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor is adamant his side's success does not rest on Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks' shoulders.
"The forwards will be more important than the halves," Taylor said. "The halves will play off the back of them. Robbie [Farah's] leadership on the field since he came back to training has been excellent. He has led by example and has been really impressive to watch.
"There is a whole heap of learning going on but the guys are really enjoying it and they are believing in what we are doing, which is the most important thing."
After inheriting a talented yet untested roster, Taylor has moved to revamp the team's defensive and offensive structures. It is a side that leaked the most points in 2014 and ranked in the top five for points conceded in the past three years.
Even in his former role as Roosters attacking coach – which helped lead the side to the 2013 title – Taylor maintained defence was key to any success.
"When a new coach comes in, you don't spend time asking them what they used to do," Taylor said. "You get your own program going right from day one. There's been a bit of learning but that's due to the fact it's different. We are at the point now where we are covered off on most areas. It's just a matter of getting better at it. We are testing ourselves at training pretty much every day at it but we still have a way to go.
"Brian Smith taught me a long time ago that defence is more important than attack and you've got to take your defence right first. Even as the attack coach at the Roosters I believed that defence was more important. Robbo [Roosters coach Trent Robinson] used to like me to stress that to the players, I haven't changed that. That flamboyant [Tigers] team was five years ago. Benji Marshall isn't here any more and these players are a bit different. This is a team with talented, skilful players but they understand that we need to work hard and how important it is to defend well. That hasn't been a struggle to get them to buy into what we do because we're working hard on our attack as well."
While the Tigers front-row rotation is strong led by the likes of Aaron Woods, Keith Galloway and Martin Taupau, their back-row remains unsettled following the departures of Adam Blair, Liam Fulton, Bodene Thompson and Cory Patterson. Youngster Lamar Liolevave is pushing to make his debut having impressed in the pre-season, while the likes of Sitaleki Akauola, Curtis Sironen, Dene Halatau and Sauaso Sue are all competing for spots.
"[There are] a few positions up for grabs," Taylor said. "It'll be down to the guys, some guys will emerge even more in the next few weeks. That's where we've got a bit of uncertainty so we'll see who will put their hand up."
Part of Taylor's new plans will see Brooks and Moses play both sides of the field. Taylor said the pair – barely out of their teens – had impressed with their football nous.
"They've both trained really well," Taylor said. "They are quite different. They get lumped in together but I've been impressed by their attitude and their commitment to what we are doing. They know the game really well, which is great and if they were struggling with that then some of the stuff we are trying to do we might have had to dumb it down. We haven't had to do it at all.
"They'll be given enough ownership of their roles and their positional play to move when they need to move."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tigers-forwards-under-pressure-not-rookie-halves-coach-jason-taylor-20150123-12wswx.html
Date
January 23, 2015
Michael Carayannis
Rugby League Writer
View more articles from Michael Carayannis
Follow Michael on Twitter Email Michael
While much of the spotlight shines on his rookie halves, new Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor is adamant his side's success does not rest on Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks' shoulders.
"The forwards will be more important than the halves," Taylor said. "The halves will play off the back of them. Robbie [Farah's] leadership on the field since he came back to training has been excellent. He has led by example and has been really impressive to watch.
"There is a whole heap of learning going on but the guys are really enjoying it and they are believing in what we are doing, which is the most important thing."
After inheriting a talented yet untested roster, Taylor has moved to revamp the team's defensive and offensive structures. It is a side that leaked the most points in 2014 and ranked in the top five for points conceded in the past three years.
Even in his former role as Roosters attacking coach – which helped lead the side to the 2013 title – Taylor maintained defence was key to any success.
"When a new coach comes in, you don't spend time asking them what they used to do," Taylor said. "You get your own program going right from day one. There's been a bit of learning but that's due to the fact it's different. We are at the point now where we are covered off on most areas. It's just a matter of getting better at it. We are testing ourselves at training pretty much every day at it but we still have a way to go.
"Brian Smith taught me a long time ago that defence is more important than attack and you've got to take your defence right first. Even as the attack coach at the Roosters I believed that defence was more important. Robbo [Roosters coach Trent Robinson] used to like me to stress that to the players, I haven't changed that. That flamboyant [Tigers] team was five years ago. Benji Marshall isn't here any more and these players are a bit different. This is a team with talented, skilful players but they understand that we need to work hard and how important it is to defend well. That hasn't been a struggle to get them to buy into what we do because we're working hard on our attack as well."
While the Tigers front-row rotation is strong led by the likes of Aaron Woods, Keith Galloway and Martin Taupau, their back-row remains unsettled following the departures of Adam Blair, Liam Fulton, Bodene Thompson and Cory Patterson. Youngster Lamar Liolevave is pushing to make his debut having impressed in the pre-season, while the likes of Sitaleki Akauola, Curtis Sironen, Dene Halatau and Sauaso Sue are all competing for spots.
"[There are] a few positions up for grabs," Taylor said. "It'll be down to the guys, some guys will emerge even more in the next few weeks. That's where we've got a bit of uncertainty so we'll see who will put their hand up."
Part of Taylor's new plans will see Brooks and Moses play both sides of the field. Taylor said the pair – barely out of their teens – had impressed with their football nous.
"They've both trained really well," Taylor said. "They are quite different. They get lumped in together but I've been impressed by their attitude and their commitment to what we are doing. They know the game really well, which is great and if they were struggling with that then some of the stuff we are trying to do we might have had to dumb it down. We haven't had to do it at all.
"They'll be given enough ownership of their roles and their positional play to move when they need to move."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tigers-forwards-under-pressure-not-rookie-halves-coach-jason-taylor-20150123-12wswx.html
