Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has leapt to the defence of his young halves after a poor showing in Sunday’s 36-2 NRL loss to Penrith, backing them to bounce back next week.
Despite holding advantages in penalties, offloads, and even plays inside the 20-metre zone, the Tigers were held try-less for the first time in a year in their home-opener of 2017.
And it was highlighted by a disappointing performance from halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, who looked a shadow of the duo that starred in a big win in round one over South Sydney.
Brooks in particular had a rough afternoon in Campbelltown, missing more than half his tackles and miscuing a number of kicks, including sending a kickoff into the crowd.
“The guys played behind a team today that was dominated, they’re the facts. I think that expectation out there is really high and it should be,” Taylor said of the 36-2 defeat.
“But all I’m saying is that I know they’ll bounce back next week.
“They’ve shown me they’re up to this standard and I’m really confident in both of them in regards to their futures and how they can lead this team as they continue to mature.”
Taylor said Moses proved in the back half of 2016 just how consistent a playmaker he could be, while Brooks struggled to make an impact because of injury.
But he is confident both players would redeem themselves against Canberra next Sunday.
“Form goes up and down. Both boys will say to you that wasn’t what we wanted today but they know how to get that right next week and they will,” Taylor said.
The off-contract Tigers coach also accepted blame for an interchange strategy that had been thrown out the window following the withdrawal of prop Tim Grant on game day.
Taylor said the veteran had been battling a flu in the lead-up to the match.
“We did try to drag a couple of our players out a bit longer than normal which in hindsight didn’t work out for us,” he said.
“But we made those decisions as a coaching group for the right reasons and thinking that it was the best way to go today but we don’t always get those right.”
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I thought Littlejohn was used a reserve rake? Beyond that though, I can only assume Tim Grant and JJ Felise were unavailable in some way.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I think it's worth pointing out that at no point in the last 5 years have any of those halves you mentioned been behind weak packs for any significant period of time (Reynolds at times in 2015, but he was often injured). Sometimes their packs have failed to perform, but on those occasions their team has usually lost.
jamesb
Guest
Could be worse. He could've had Jordan Rankin on the bench.
Albo
Guest
Totally agree with your assessment there Joe ! Its what separates the great game managers from the "also triers". That's why Smith, Cronk, & JT are the only real game mangers of the NRL with their ability to consistently adapt to the circumstances via their kicking games, slowing down the play, option selections, etc, when their pack is under the hammer, and playing up tempo and free flowing when their pack is on top. I agree that Ash Taylor is the best of the budding new breed looking to reach that same level of game management. He seems to get it and has the skills to perform to it ! Corey Norman is quickly learning all about it too, and I am hoping Nathan Cleary too reaches those levels with some more experience. Other notables like Pearce, Reynolds, DCE & Shaun Johnson I don't think are there yet due to their inconsistency in their decision making, their kicking games and options selection. Others still, have little idea, or lack the experience, or just lack the skills to manage the circumstances of the game.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
What the hell was Taylor thinking with his bench selection? Two lightweight reserve forwards in Edwards and Aloiai, a reserve centre in Idris and a reserve halfback in Littlejohn? Up against that giant Panthers pack? What was he thinking?
Joe
Roar Rookie
That is the difference between a good quality half and these halves who only seem to go well with a good forward pack because they focus too much on their attacking and running game. All these young guys still need a lot of lessons in game management to reach the levels of a JT, Maloney, Cronk maybe even A. Reynolds now and hookers like Smith. There are some games where your forward pack will get belted, that is a fact of playing in the NRL. That is where the halves step up to ease the load with their kicking game and turning the other teams big boppers around. Kicking to the sidelines when you're under pressure or kicking deep early to get your team on the front foot and the other forwards turning around. Just give your forwards enough time for a breather and to get settled and not let the other dominate for long periods and hope things turn around in a game. Until they learn these lessons you'll get these inconsistent performances where when the forwards are dominant the halves look like world beaters but when the forwards are backpedalling they're still trying the miracle plays and attack that will only go wrong with tired forwards. One young half who I think is well on his way in this regard is Ash Taylor. Great work from him when his team had only 1 on the bench to nearly pull off a win on the weekend.
steveng
Roar Rookie
'MAX', Brooks made that many mistakes that Taylor should really look at him and wonder what he’s doing on a football field, he's mistakes were worst than a school boy's. But, the buildup from the press for the Tigers was another thing that probably went to the Tigers and Taylors heads. The Panthers made them look very ordinary.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Interchange USe? Or just his bench selections. Aloiai and Edwards were his only 2 forwards. If Idris isnt fit enough to play 80 minutes as a centre, make him a second rower or drop him to NSW Cup to build fitness.
kk
Roar Pro
Both teams had most of us fooled. The real teams stood up yesterday. Luke Brooks is so far down on confidence he is fortunate to have a sympathetic coach to even be considered for selection. The Tigers are in for some tough times.
Albo
Guest
The Tigers halves were at a disadvantage after the first 20 minutes as the Panthers pack ( once Cartwright went off) were totally dominant. The Tigers pack couldn't compete and the halves were under pressure and could not perform under these circumstances. It was the complete opposite for both packs from the week before when the Panthers pack was abysmal against St George and the Tigers pack were all over the Rabbitohs. A week is a long time in the NRL and you can go from the penthouse to the outhouse very quickly and vice versa. Last week Cleary, Martin & Moylan were "overrated duds", this week they are super stars again. Now same goes this week for Moses, Brookes & Teddy after being super stars last week ? Even the best halves will struggle if your forwards are totally dominated.
andrew
Guest
Taylor should be taking a whole lot of responsibility. His interchange use was dreadful. Woods was off for too long when the game was won/lost. And of course last year, the errors by Moses and Brookes would have been blamed on Farah's delivery. Of course Farah isn't there now so it is "the packs" fault..
Armchair expert
Guest
Good quick quality ball out of dummy half is all these two need............ Sorry, but someone has to say it!
Jimmmy
Guest
That's the problem with those two. Totally inconsistent. The difference between their best and worst is huge. Can you teach someone to be consistent or is it an issue of character that can't change? . I don't really know. When these guys are on song they are world beaters but it just doesn't happen often enough.. PS Penrith and the Raiders both in my top four and I haven't seen any reason to change my opinion. The only team that has surprised me so far is the Sharks. I thought Eniss was irreplaceable. I think I had them at 7 but they could be a lot higher than that.