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Halves problem continues to hurt Wests Tigers

16th April, 2013
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Benji Marshall in action. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
Roar Guru
16th April, 2013
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Six rounds in and the Wests Tigers are just about where the experts predicted they’d be.

13th on the ladder with four losses, two wins and just who to pop in the six and seven jumpers still causing trouble.

With Braith Anasta not due back until Round 10 with a groin injury, and Benji Marshall out with a toe injury until Round 9 the Tigers are rudderless and drifting in choppy seas.

The responsibility of guiding the side once again falls on the overloaded shoulders of hooker Robbie Farah.

This isn’t a new problem though. The joint-venture has been struggling with a consistent halves pairing since Scott Prince left the club.

Robert Lui’s off-field troubles stopped him developing a relationship with Marshall, Tim Moltzen had a crack but continues to drift around the park and Anasta was bought to fill some time while the search party was out looking for anyone with some playmaking experience.

Jacob Miller is a talented young player and started the season the way you’d expect a 20-year-old to play. But instead of being given time to settle into the role he was dumped from first grade after four rounds.

Now, new coach Mick Potter might not have any choice but to bring Miller back into the fold for their match against the Broncos at Campbelltown. 

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The forward pack that played against the Dragons is also a wait and see proposition.

Ben Murdoch Masila has shown promise in patches, Jack Buchanan has also made the step up, but Ava Seumanufagai, Sauaso Sue and Shaun Spence are all still finding their feet at first grade level and will be for some time.

At this rate they won’t have an opportunity to just ease in to the top grade, because outside of Aaron Woods the club has no one else at the moment.

Keith Galloway’s terrible run with injury hasn’t helped, but it looks as though the club is starting to pay the price for its management of the salary cap.

The decision to allow Chris Heighington, Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita leave was questioned long and loud, especially when the cupboard wasn’t overflowing to begin with.

Fifita has turned into a destructive force at Cronulla. Wests Tigers fans will no doubt be asking why on earth they only saw glimpses of it while he was in the orange and black.

Potter has a monumental job on his hands. It’s something he would’ve known well before contemplating moving back from England.

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Not that his situation in the Super League was any better.

Potter ended up coaching Bradford in a voluntary capacity after he was one of 16 staff made redundant by the Bulls last season.

It shows, if nothing else, that he’ll go to extraordinary lengths to get the job done.

This season won’t dip to that low, but the task at hand, under the immense scrutiny that comes with being an NRL coach, will be a monumental challenge.

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