Round 23 team analysis: V Sydney Roosters

It's hard to imagine things getting any worse than they did last Saturday night in Townsville as Wests Tigers turned in what will likely rank the worst performance by a Tigers side in it's 15 year existence. Words probably didn't do it justice. It had to be seen to be believed. Ominously the Tigers now face the task of picking up the pieces against premiers the Sydney Roosters this Saturday night at Leichhardt Oval.

Wests were down on troops up in the tropics and it showed as the Cowboys targeted the Tigers weaknesses to great effect. To make matters worse the Tigers capitulated! Perhaps it was a bad night and perhaps the drama's of the past couple of weeks had taken it's toll?? Either way it was ugly viewing as the defence was non existent and the side committed the most basic handling errors imaginable.

Amazingly the club this morning went to the trouble of posting a plea for fans to support the side this weekend as it battles a season seemingly long lost but remarkably still hanging by the finest of threads. The visit to Leichhardt Oval this weekend of the Roosters is daunting to say the least. Whilst their form hasn't been great, there's little to report on the injury front and the prospect of a determined backline tormenting the Tigers on Saturday night is a very realistic prospect.

In team news the Tigers lose the services of yet another back in Tim Simona who sustained a knee injury on the weekend. He's replaced by another back rower in Cory Paterson. This makes it 4 weeks in a row a back rower has been named in the backs for the club. Kurtis Rowe holds his wing spot after a tough night in Townsville. In the forwards Keith Galloway at least returns to the side once more. His inclusion forces Ava Seumanufagai back to the bench with Jack Buchanan the man to miss out. Sitaleki Akauola also returns on the bench after serving a one match ban.

For the Tigers to win this game it's hard to see where it will come from. Simply improving their basics will be a great place to start though. The ball handling was atrocious last weekend and the tackling was not much better. These are two areas the club must improve dramatically if they're to even compete with the Roosters.

 If ever the cliche "we're focusing on ourselves this week and not the oppostion" was relevant than this week is certainly one of those weeks. The Tigers really do just need to focus on the basics. Completing sets, talking in defence and playing disciplined football. The Leichhardt faithful will respond and do their bit. So long as the players do theirs.

You do get the feeling though that our chances of winning this one come down to which Roosters side turns up. They've been average for most of the season and only their quality has seen them keep pace with the front runners. However this week it's hard to see how the Tigers could possibly beat them. There's just too many players missing and just too much talent on the other side of the ball.

WESTS TIGERS TEAM V SYDNEY ROOSTERS

1. Mitchell Moses 2. Kurtis Rowe 3. Tim Simona 4. Bodene Thompson 5. Keith Lulia 6. Curtis Sironen 7. Blake Austin 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Adam Blair 12. Dene Halatau 13. Sauaso Sue

Interchange: 14. Ava Seumanufagai 15. Martin Taupau 16. Sitaleki Akauola 17. James Gavet