Winning Ways

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Tigers return to winning ways with victory
Michael Blok
Timestamp
Sun 2 May 2021, 05:57 PM

Michael Maguire’s men dominated the second half with a mountain of possession and field position, scoring two tries to none in the final 40 minutes to record their second win of the season.

Entertaining winger Zac Cini was impressive on debut and his try early in the second half will be a moment he’ll never forget.

After being denied earlier in the half when the Bunker was forced to take a try off the debutant, Cini managed to score in the left corner to give Wests Tigers the lead and send his family and friends into wild celebrations in the stands.

The winger, who looked comfortable in the top grade, finished with 153 metres and two line-breaks, as well as a breathtaking try-saver in his first career game.

Joey Leilua bagged his first try of the season in his return game to first grade when fullback Daine Laurie sent him over the line to give Wests Tigers an eight-point lead.

The first half was littered with mistakes from both sides as the Dragons held an 8-6 lead at the break.

It wasn’t an ideal start for Wests Tigers with the home side gaining a 6-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the game with Zac Lomax slotting a penalty goal before Cody Ramsey scored in the left corner.

Tommy Talau was placed on report for a shoulder charge in the lead up to the game’s opening try.

The Dragons dropped the ball off the kickoff, allowing Wests Tigers to build plenty of pressure with five consecutive attacking sets, but weren’t able to crack a wall of defence.

Tommy Talau stepped up to bring the away side back in the game with two big plays. The first being a big hit to gain possession before scoring up the other end after David Nofoaluma bathed the ball to his team-mate to score.

Wests Tigers will be looking for back-to-back wins when they face the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium next Saturday evening.

 

[hsvjones]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

 

[gallagher]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

Surely he's back next week.

 

[PJ_]

Need to back it up now.
No more fluff pieces, just keep winning

 

[bradexl]

Need to back it up now.
No more fluff pieces, just keep winning

A win like today give you hope. Needs to be backed up again next week against Titans in Campbelltown. A loss is hope diminished and back to same old same old

 

[mikey]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

Did well but I'd rather we see how he goes in his next couple of games. Knee-jerk reactions have bitten us many times in the past.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

 

[Bigscreentv]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

Definitely - happy he played really well, and he definitely looked comfortable, but players can do well on debut on adrenaline alone. What's important is how he develops over the next 6-12 months.

We definitely need more juniors who have a passion for the club and representing it.

 

[OzLuke]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

 

[Speed2burn]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

 

[OzLuke]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

sweet. so you'd think that he and Blore would be mates. That's the sort of culture we need to bring to our club. Otherwise it's just a job where you have no real investment in the club imo

 

[Speed2burn]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

sweet. so you'd think that he and Blore would be mates. That's the sort of culture we need to bring to our club. Otherwise it's just a job where you have no real investment in the club imo

He’s pretty close to Laurie aswell by the looks of it and played Aust Schoolboys with Talau/Madden

Yeah agreed, the leadership stuff is overrated. Invest in kids like Stefano, Laurie, Blore, Cini, Simpkin etc.

 

[OzLuke]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

sweet. so you'd think that he and Blore would be mates. That's the sort of culture we need to bring to our club. Otherwise it's just a job where you have no real investment in the club imo

He’s pretty close to Laurie aswell by the looks of it and played Aust Schoolboys with Talau/Madden

Yeah agreed, the leadership stuff is overrated. Invest in kids like Stefano, Laurie, Blore, Cini, Simpkin etc.

Not to deride what tamou has achieved in the game, but as a young fella would you be more concerned about what an old player thinks? Or would you be more concerned about letting your young mates down?
just a perspective question....

 

[Speed2burn]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

sweet. so you'd think that he and Blore would be mates. That's the sort of culture we need to bring to our club. Otherwise it's just a job where you have no real investment in the club imo

He’s pretty close to Laurie aswell by the looks of it and played Aust Schoolboys with Talau/Madden

Yeah agreed, the leadership stuff is overrated. Invest in kids like Stefano, Laurie, Blore, Cini, Simpkin etc.

Not to deride what tamou has achieved in the game, but as a young fella would you be more concerned about what an old player thinks? Or would you be more concerned about letting your young mates down?
just a perspective question....

I think it’s subjective

Players like Tamou know their limits and what they bring to the team week in week out

Younger players like Laurie have a stack of football ahead of them and are still trying to establish themselves. But when you run out onto the paddock, everybody is accountable for something, doesn’t matter if the bloke next to you is 20 or 35...

 

[Bigscreentv]

Just hope Cini is back next week as he did an excellent job..
The @THE_POM said we offered him a 1 year deal and I think that needs to be extended to 2 year urgently before we lose him. He just looked like a guy that was meant to be in 1st grade and hope he keeps playing well.

He played 1 game, yes he was awesome but he needs time. He is also a wests tigers tragic, if we look after him he won’t be going anywhere. Get him sorted for next year, let him play this year out knowing he is sorted and in the off season look to extend.

this is the sort of kid we need to build a bit of culture around. play for your mates and love of the club type stuff.

I'm not huge into the lower grades, but who did he come through with that are either playing fg or has a chance to play fg?

He came through the Penrith system, played SG Ball with Blore, Chricton, Burton, Staines etc

sweet. so you'd think that he and Blore would be mates. That's the sort of culture we need to bring to our club. Otherwise it's just a job where you have no real investment in the club imo

He’s pretty close to Laurie aswell by the looks of it and played Aust Schoolboys with Talau/Madden

Yeah agreed, the leadership stuff is overrated. Invest in kids like Stefano, Laurie, Blore, Cini, Simpkin etc.

Leadership is overrated when it's assumed that it comes with age. Some players are leaders regardless of their age, and some players will never be leaders.

Pick on character. Pick players who have a good work ethic. Pick players who have a connection with the club and love the club. Weed out the mercenaries that come to the club for a pay-packet; only way to do that is to develop young talent.

 

[rah53]

Glad we finally got that win. But I have to mention how bad the Dragons were. If you look at the team stats, we beat them in pretty much every stat. The worst 1 was the missed tackles, Dragons missed 45 to the Tigers 16. We should've won by more with that stat alone.

Hopefully, this can spark a string of wins, but that's a tough ask going by our history of backing up. We can't expect for teams to play poor against us every week, can only hope. But they still need to dig deep & grind it out for the rest of the season.

 

[Bigscreentv]

Glad we finally got that win. But I have to mention how bad the Dragons were. If you look at the team stats, we beat them in pretty much every stat. The worst 1 was the missed tackles, Dragons missed 45 to the Tigers 16. We should've won by more with that stat alone.

Hopefully, this can spark a string of wins, but that's a tough ask going by our history of backing up. We can't expect for teams to play poor against us every week, can only hope. But they still need to dig deep & grind it out for the rest of the season.

I agree. Dragons were very ordinary. Long season ahead for them. And I'm happy with that.

I don't think the Dragons were great, but they had no ball due to the Tigers completion rate, repeat sets etc. Maybe they were poor partly due to Tigers? I mean, the same thing happened to the bunnies. The Dragons looked absolutely buggered...when you're buggered you make errors.

I'll admit that a better attacking team would have punished the tigers for their couple of errors in their own half.