Last week at Leichhardt Oval it felt as if the Tigers’ season might be over.
After a 60-6 loss to the Raiders at GIO last Saturday, it now feels as if their season never began.
How distant do those early wins against the Warriors and Sea Eagles seem now?
For a brief moment there, it looked as if the Tigers might turn out to be as good as their best players in 2016.
Over the last couple of weeks, however, they’ve begged the question of just how far a team can decline.
In the modern era, player mobility means that you don’t tend to see the kinds of epic losing streaks that were possible in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Yet in a footy season that has been marked by dramatic losses the Tigers seem to have hit a particularly dark place.
While the Dragons may have been unable to manage a single point against last year’s grand finalists, at least they compensated with a win against the Titans at the end of their Queensland tour and a victory over the Roosters last week.
Similarly, while the Knights suffered a fairly humiliating defeat to the Broncos at Suncorp, even they managed to beat the Tigers the previous round at Hunter.
Compared to the Tigers’ run of losses, St George-Illawarra and Newcastle feel as if they’re positively thriving.
After a solitary try from Chris Lawrence at the 16th minute and a subsequent conversion from Jordan Rankin, the Tigers didn’t score again at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
Utterly at sea in the second half, they didn’t even feel as if they were putting up a real contest.
It was more like a demonstration game at a footy clinic, a lesson in all the ways you can dominate the opposition.
As a Tigers fan, that’s an especially difficult thing for me to say.
It was your classic example of entertaining footy gone wrong. With Ricky Stuart on the warpath, the boys needed to fight fire with fire.
Don’t get me wrong – I actually like Jason Taylor’s return to free-flowing football in principle.
In 2016 it’s a novel approach as well as a tribute to the kind of play that thrived under Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah in the buildup to the 2005 win.
But for the current Tigers squad it’s clearly not the best option.
In fact, it’s abundantly clear now that Jason Taylor is not the best option.
With Dene Halatau sent off in the first couple of minutes, Aaron Woods out for the count and Robbie Farah no longer captain, the problem with this team was suddenly, blindingly obvious.
Leadership.
As the Storm, Broncos and Cowboys have shown, a team with a visionary – or at least a competent – coach is generally a team with strong defensive capabilities.
Defence isn’t just about strength or strategy, it’s about the synergy that comes when a team has a unified sense of vision and purpose.
With a trio that should – or could – be one of the best spines in the business, there’s no other way to explain why the Tigers have put in the single worst performance this season.
It’s crazy to think that this is the home of James Tedesco, a world class fullback and arguably the most inspired choice for Origin no. 1.
It’s even crazier to think how easily Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks could slip from the Tigers’ grasp as they search for a better vehicle for their talents.
Given the complexity of the conflict between Taylor, Farah and the Tigers management, it’s hard to finally say who’s at fault.
While Robbie is a folk hero and a cult hooker he’s more than capable of melodrama.
At the end of the day, though, Robbie is more integral to the Tigers vision than Taylor, even at this late stage in his career.
What the Tiges need to do now is to find a leader who can provide them with stability and synergy.
Just imagine what someone like Bennett or Bellamy would be able to do with this team.
Let’s hope that club management gives Taylor the boot and brings in someone who can really deliver the players and fans what they deserve.
William Ian
Guest
Yeah he was a reserve in 2005 when he played 27 games and the grand final - he was really in the wilderness then. Brooks and Moses need to deliver on a more consistent basis to be considered leaders of this club and justify letting Blake Austin go
William Ian
Guest
Yeah he was a reserve player in 2005 when he played 27 matches and the grand final. Moses and Brooks need to start delivering on their potential before the team can defer to them. They need to show that they are the future and prove why Blake Austin was let go.
S T Ruggling
Roar Pro
He was a reserve player in the 2005 premiership team and his origin record is laughable, he is also hampering the development of Brooks and Moses
Peeeko
Guest
Mate, the dragons have won 4 and lost 4. They gave lost to the 4 best teams in the comp. there's a lot worse than the dragons
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Says it all, doesn't it, that absolutely nobody wanted a premiership and origin series winning hooker at a low price for someone of that level of accomplishment.
Parrafan
Guest
Taylor tried that and the buddy buddy system at tigers kicked in. Need the broom taken to them top to bottom.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
As a Bears fan, I both agree and Disagree with old George...
pete bloor
Guest
But they tired that and no one else wanted him!
MAX
Guest
Hi Epiquin, I think they have until a date in June to complete negotiations for a transfer. If press reports of each asking $800K they will be Tigers for life @ half that amount. As I understand it the Balmain side of the club now either own nothing with the right to buy back 25% or they retain 25% of something with the right to buy back 25% to return to 50% of the merged club. This situation does not create a productive unit and must affect the morale of players and coach. George Piggins was a wise man when he declared it was better to die than merge.
James Preston
Roar Guru
I have said this many times, in fact I wrote an article about it last season. TPA's are ruining the game. Like you I can't believe this squad actually does take up the full salary cap, but let's say it does - at the Broncos Anthony Milford is probably earning around 800k, roughly 450k is part of the salary cap, 350k comes in from TPA's. He is in every way shape and form an 800k player but the Broncos don't have to oblige by that. The Tigers given their poor sponsorship would have to utilise 800k directly from the cap to secure him. My system was simple and effective. Independent player value assessments which are formed by the coaches of the 16 teams, a panel of experts from journalism, commentary etc and the ARL commission. Combine their thoughts to find a median category for the player - each category has a minimum charge/value that can be applied to a player falling into it. For example category 1 would be the highest category, at this stage cause he is still young but already one of the best in the game Milford would fall into category 2. Category 2 players must take up a minimum of 600k salary cap affected income. From there he is free to earn as much as possible from TPA's so as to not minimise the players earning potential - this system is purely in place to restrict clubs taking advantage of the current system. What would regulate the player values and resultant categories? Well Bennett for example would massively under value Milford to try and keep him at the club, placing him in say a category 5 bracket where he must be paid a minimum 200k for example. However other coaches would be likely to place him in category 1 and 2 thus increasing the media - they would also however be wary of placing his category value to high because it would mean it would be harder to poach him and fit him in their cap. Then of course the independents come in to further regulate things.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha good stuff!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Tigers Coach Robert Farah has the full backing of the Board of Farrah's.
pete bloor
Guest
I do love how at the start of the year Talyor wasn't the answer because he was too structured, never mind they scored more points and reducing the points conceded versus pervious years, his style went against he vibe. Losing is by a lot is okay so long as it feels like you look good doing it. So he changed it and gave a team that didn't have the experience to exercise the self control required to value field position whilst playing without a structure. Devastation ensured and now Taylor isn't the right amn for the job beucae clearly this style doesn't suit the cattle. Fans should heed the advice "be careful what you wish for as you just might get it". In the fan and player led democracy you get the results you deserve.
HarryT
Guest
Yes they did, and won them playing enterprising footy. They looked like they were loving it too. When Farah returned that enjoyment and the expansive game seemed to disappear. Who knows what is going on, but it isn't good and it hasn't been solved by sacking all those coaches.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
The matter has been reported to CEO Robert Farrah and will be discussed at next week's Board of Farrah's meeting.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Isn't it often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? If so, consider the Tigers to be utterly certifiable. Clearly whatever problem is occurring at the Tigers is not a coaching problem and I will have very little sympathy for Tigers fans if they sack Taylor. So many fans were very vocal in their support of Farah in the preseason, so man fans keep telling us that Moses and Brooks will be fantastic halves once they get a few games under their belts (despite the fact they've got about 100 games between them and three seasons). How long do you give them?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I can imagine the headline; rift develops between coach Robert Farah and Tigers hooker Robbie Farah...
Joe
Roar Rookie
Hard to pick tonight's game. Tigers have Simona and Sue back. Rabbits lost to Broncs and Cows but which team wouldn't...at least they scored points against both and were in the game against the Broncs for a while. The Dragons couldn't score against either team but were good enough to beat Titans and Roosters. I guess I'll be going with the Rabbits tonight in a close one.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Why not sack Taylor and make Farah officially the coach. Surely Farah wouldn't stab himself in the back?
ChubbzyK96
Guest
Yup Get Rid of Farah, i am not sure what he does but he has played 6 matches this year for 0-6.