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Wounded Tigers bunkered down
By Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph May 21, 2010 12:00AM
WESTS Tigers are a club in siege mentality.
After a week from hell, the Tigers travelled to Newcastle on Wednesday for a three-day camp leading into this evening's vital game against the Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The players are off-limits to the media, coach Tim Sheens would not return calls to The Daily Telegraph.
Wests Tigers are bunkered down in the Crowne Plaza still embarrassed after a 50-10 loss to Souths last Sunday the SCG, the defeat coming amid talk of unrest in the camp.
Suddenly this match has become pivotal to the Tigers' spluttering season.
"They will be doing some soul-searching and talking about what's important to them," Tigers legend Wayne Pearce said.
Despite the 40-point loss, TAB Sportsbet has Wests Tigers as $1.80 favourites with Newcastle $2.
"After last week, they will have a point to prove," Newcastle forward Steve Simpson said.
"They will be hungry but we're not sitting too pretty ourselves so we will also be desperate.
"They have lost a few games in a row - we have been there as well - so they will want to nip that in bud. We just hope it doesn't happen on Friday night. It has the makings for a good game."
After winning three of their first four games, Wests Tigers have now lost four successive games. Their season is suddenly at the crossroads.
"At the end of the day, this is a super crunch game for them. They will be prioritising about what the game is all about," Pearce said.
"They have to commit to every play and take responsibility for every moment. Each player has to step up and lead in his own way.
"Last week was embarrassing for the players, no doubt. But I still think this game is very win-able."
Former Wests Magpies champion and Team of the Century forward, Noel Kelly, said answers for last weekend's performance were difficult to find.
Asked how Wests Tigers fix their problems, Kelly said: "Oh dear, how do you turn it around?
"They just have to try and move on but a result like that sticks in your memory, it takes a bit to forget.
"The further the game went, the worse it got. Maybe it showed Wests aren't as good as what we think. It's got to the stage when Benji [Marshall] doesn't make a break, no one does.
"I felt sorry for them when you get on the outside of a game like that."
By Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph May 21, 2010 12:00AM
WESTS Tigers are a club in siege mentality.
After a week from hell, the Tigers travelled to Newcastle on Wednesday for a three-day camp leading into this evening's vital game against the Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The players are off-limits to the media, coach Tim Sheens would not return calls to The Daily Telegraph.
Wests Tigers are bunkered down in the Crowne Plaza still embarrassed after a 50-10 loss to Souths last Sunday the SCG, the defeat coming amid talk of unrest in the camp.
Suddenly this match has become pivotal to the Tigers' spluttering season.
"They will be doing some soul-searching and talking about what's important to them," Tigers legend Wayne Pearce said.
Despite the 40-point loss, TAB Sportsbet has Wests Tigers as $1.80 favourites with Newcastle $2.
"After last week, they will have a point to prove," Newcastle forward Steve Simpson said.
"They will be hungry but we're not sitting too pretty ourselves so we will also be desperate.
"They have lost a few games in a row - we have been there as well - so they will want to nip that in bud. We just hope it doesn't happen on Friday night. It has the makings for a good game."
After winning three of their first four games, Wests Tigers have now lost four successive games. Their season is suddenly at the crossroads.
"At the end of the day, this is a super crunch game for them. They will be prioritising about what the game is all about," Pearce said.
"They have to commit to every play and take responsibility for every moment. Each player has to step up and lead in his own way.
"Last week was embarrassing for the players, no doubt. But I still think this game is very win-able."
Former Wests Magpies champion and Team of the Century forward, Noel Kelly, said answers for last weekend's performance were difficult to find.
Asked how Wests Tigers fix their problems, Kelly said: "Oh dear, how do you turn it around?
"They just have to try and move on but a result like that sticks in your memory, it takes a bit to forget.
"The further the game went, the worse it got. Maybe it showed Wests aren't as good as what we think. It's got to the stage when Benji [Marshall] doesn't make a break, no one does.
"I felt sorry for them when you get on the outside of a game like that."
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