A straight-talking Wests Tigers side say they are playing for under-siege NRL coach Mick Potter’s career against premiers the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Backroom manoeuvrings already had Potter under pressure, however his tenure is balanced on a knife edge following last weekend’s 64-6 hiding at the hands of North Queensland in Townsville.
Back-rower Dene Halatau was frank in his appraisal that the the coach and playing group both faced the axe should they put in another insipid performance this weekend.
However, he refused to accept that the result was a foregone conclusion, emphasising the game would come down to attitude.
“We’re playing for our season and for (Potter’s) job,” he said.
“If we get the result and we do get in the finals, it’s going to do him no harm at all. Going into the finals with a bit of momentum would be ideal.”
The 12th-placed Tigers are a mathematical chance of qualifying for the top eight but only if they win all four remaining and other results run their way.
Halfback Luke Brooks is considered an outside chance to return from a shoulder injury against the Roosters.
He has returned to training but has not resumed contact work.
Stand-in half Curtis Sironen said Brooks had shown plenty of enthusiasm on the training paddock and did not look far off a return.
Brooks will need to pass a physical test if he is to play this week and is considered more likely to make a comeback next week.
The No.7’s absence, along with injuries to James Tedesco (knee) and Braith Anasta (bicep), means the side again will be missing three quarters of their spine.
Centre Chris Lawrence, who will play his 150th match against the Roosters, said injuries and the youthful nature of the squad had contributed to the team’s recent poor form.
“We’ve got an inexperienced side and we made too many mistakes early (against the Cowboys) and had guys dropping their heads and playing a side that, once they’re on a roll, they’re pretty hard to stop,” he said.
“It just felt like the harder we tried and the more we tried to do, the deeper we dug ourselves in a hole.”
Muzz
Guest
No need to worry, Mick. Robbie has your back.
Muzz
Guest
Slow cooked Rabbit Stew?
KB
Guest
Every year about this time i go rabbit hunting.. Usually in a remote region without mobile coverage. Just got back, eradicated quite a few of the pests. Come September/October I shall be hunting seagulls..
james t
Guest
Ah Kb u finally come out of the woodworks after the manly roosters game.
The eye
Guest
+1 tigerd..from the game I saw last week if they were playing for THEIR OWN future most of the outside backs would have had their contracts torn up in the sheds after the game..and it looks like exactly the same team this week,well Paterson in the centres for Simona so someone has to put the shredder in the tunnel as motivation ..but gotta real bad feeling about this one,sarge..
tigerdave
Guest
Why do they need that incentive. Shouldn't they be playing to win every week as well. Shouldn't they be playing to win because that's the nature of the game, because they have decided that they have discovered some self respect in a week, because they have let their fans down badly, because they do care about their gernsey, because they have decided that they will put their body on the line. Why do they need that excuse, it's not Mick Potter that playes for them. He has proven to be a perfectly good coach when the players decide to put in an effort. What sort of example are we showing our kids, Brooks, Tedesco, Moses, Woods, Simona, Neufalome, Sironen. Don't give me that garbage, just play the game...and I mean play...with some attitude and put your bodies on the line. Losing isn't a shame, they way you have been losing is shameful though..
KB
Guest
EVERY week some team seem to be playing for the past present or future of someone or something when they play the Premiers..bring it all on. ChooksBACK2BACK
Jill Wilding
Roar Rookie
All I can say about the 2014 NRL Season is that if the players were horses they would all be swabbed !!