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Tigers' fate in their own hands: Maguire

3 minute read

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire says his players are growing in the back end of the NRL season and their late finals push is solely in their hands

Rabbitohs coach MICHAEL MAGUIRE.
Rabbitohs coach MICHAEL MAGUIRE. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Michael Maguire has told his Wests Tigers players to embrace the do-or-die road ahead of them if they are to end a 10-year drought and make the NRL finals.

In 13th place and four points adrift of the top eight, Maguire admits there's a massive task ahead if they are to snare a spot in the post-season.

But he insists their growth as a team late in the season has given him renewed belief that their finals drought may soon be over.

An away trip against struggling North Queensland on Saturday gives the Tigers a good a chance of securing back-to-back wins for just the second time this year.

"They know where we're at in this season and what this game stands for," Magure said on the eve of the clash.

"The prep this week has been strong, we've got to get out there and perform.

"The boys know they're well and truly alive with the opportunities ahead.

"We need to continually get back-to-back wins, that's our biggest thing now."

The game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium also offers the Tigers a shot at redemption.

Their most recent game against the Cowboys was arguably the Tigers' lowest ebb, booed off Leichhardt Oval when down 28-6 at halftime - on a day fans attended to farewell the late Tommy Raudonikis.

The Tigers need to win their remaining four games - which include , Cronulla, Penrith and Canterbury and have a few results go their way if they're any chance to continue their season deep into September.

After staggering through another disappointing season, Maguire claims his players are now exuding traits of growth and recognition for previous failures.

"I've seen the boys this week show account to those sorts of things that happened last week where we sometimes invited the opposition back into the game," he said.

"So if we can be better in that area then we can be a really strong performer in the back end of the season.

"We've got to grow off the back of the things that we're experiencing now, the game last week we applied some real good pressure at times, and we gave ourselves the opportunity.

"That's our biggest thing now is showing at times what we can do as a football team, is something there that we need to create as our habit of us playing."

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