Yesterday's loss for the Wests Tigers may not have been the biggest of the season but there's no denying the fact that it was in my opinion, the worst loss of the season. The Tigers performance against a patched up Gold Coast side was so insipid that fans were left wondering if some players had even bothered. Such was the ease that the Titans did everything, the Tigers didn't seem to offer more than just a speed bump.
The reality for the Tigers was that yesterday's game was a definite winnable game. The Titans were undermanned with key personnel missing. In fact, it would be fair to suggest that the Titans were worse off than the Tigers. The only key player missing for the Tigers was Aaron Woods. Missing for the Titans were Albert Kelly, Will Zillman, Matt Srama and Luke Bailey amongst others. With that, the Tigers had a stronger side out on the park yesterday.
Much will be made of yesterday's performance, the Tigers made a lot of rookie mistakes in both defence and attack but it was a deeper, more troublesome underlying problem at the centre of the issue yesterday. The application of some senior players was poor. Real poor! Fans can cop a loss, or players who simply had a bad day, so long as the effort is there. However yesterday a couple of senior Wests Tigers showed little commitment to the cause yesterday. Benji Marshall and Blake Ayshford just didn't look interested yesterday. Their work rates were poor, their effectiveness measured in how much their lack of effort hurt their team by the end of the game. The signs were there from the start. Neither player's body language suggested they were up for the game. Defensively Ayshford was as horrible as Marshall was horrible in attack.
The trouble with their performance is that in a young team it's the performance of senior players that encourages the younger players to follow suit. They are the examples. Some did their job. Adam Blair, Liam Fulton and Keith Galloway tried their best. Chris Lawrence who had an unhappy game also deserves to be noted for his efforts. Some of the youngsters also played well. James Tedesco was without question the Tigers best. However in order for them to improve, they need the encouragement of the senior players, they need to see the experienced players perform, doing the little things right. Yesterday some of those senior players let them down in a big way.
The week ahead for the Tigers now shapes as an interesting one. Not least because coach Mick Potter has suggested he'll talk with the NRL about an exemption for young halfback Luke Brooks. The week will also be interesting in relation to what Potter does with his team overall. There will be huge pressure on Blake Ayshford to hold his spot after Sunday. His performance just wasn't acceptable. Young winger Marika Koroibete could return, shifting Tim Simona to the centre. Much question will focus on Benji Marshall again whose performance since announcing his departure has been horrible. His application has been poor and he's look far from switched on. Would Potter dump him to the bench again?? I wouldn't rule it out. There has to be some possibility that Luke Brooks could team up with Braith Anasta this week against the Eels.
One thing though is certain, I think the season is catching up with the Tigers and is taking a toll. Mentally this side has absorbed a lot. From the death of Mosese Fotuiaka before the season even started, to the 7 match losing streak and horrendous injury toll. Chuck in the Benji Marshall drama, a boardroom squabble and quite a lot has happened. The off season cannot come soon enough.
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