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Tigers need consistency to turn corner

3 minute read

Claims Wests Tigers have turned a corner mean nothing if they play like they did in the loss to the Warriors on Friday, according to coach Michael Maguire.

MICHAEL MAGUIRE
MICHAEL MAGUIRE Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Michael Maguire has told Wests Tigers players they can't claim to have turned a corner if they can't perform consistently after being beaten by the Warriors.

The Tigers let slip a perfect chance to move back into the NRL's top-eight in the loss, blowing an early lead to go down 26-20.

It marked their second shock loss of the year, after also losing to the Gold Coast in round four.

There's no doubt the Tigers have improved dramatically since then, with Maguire swinging the axe in a desperate bid to change the culture at the club.

But he said that counted for little if they can't eradicate the poor nights out of their game.

"If you're going to play NRL, you have to do it all the time. You can't slip in attitude," Maguire said.

"It was a poor performance.

"If you talk about offloads and the things we're good at, well you have to recognise you might be good at them but you've got to do it every week."

Friday night's loss could well prove costly in their bid to climb from 10th and into the finals.

In the eight rounds left, the club play seven teams ranked above them on the ladder - including all four of the current top four.

The Tigers looked like they were in for a cakewalk after jumping out to an early 8-0 lead courtesy of two tries.

But it was there it all went wrong.

They gave away the most offloads and the second-most metres they have all year, as the Warriors steamrolled them through the middle.

It clearly frustrated Maguire, who was seen kicking a chair in the sheds at half-time before giving his players a serve after the match.

"It's all between the ears," Maguire said.

"We're determined to continually work towards the club we want to be. That's the goal and that's what we're going to be doing every day.

"If you're going to play NRL you've got to do it all the time. That's what we've got to take ownership of.

"We've shown passages over the past four or five weeks of what we're capable of doing.

"We've got to do that for longer periods of time now to achieve what we want."

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