It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Tigers supporters. One of our best players has been deregistered in the most unflattering circumstances.
We’ve suffered two debilitating losses to the Panthers and the Raiders.
And, of course, we’ve lost our coach.
Whatever you think of Jason Taylor, there’s nothing more precarious than a team without a coach.
In light all that, it’s not surprising that the so-called Big Four has come under additional scrutiny.
In the absence of a dependable coaching and management presence, James Tedeso, Luke Brooks, Mitch Moses and Aaron Woods have had to provide what little bedrock of stability the team has.
As a result, critiques of the team have tended to focus on critiques of these four players.
In some ways, however, that’s not really fair.
For one thing, you can’t expect four players – however good – to compensate for coaching and managerial chaos.
At the same time, the Big Four was never just about talent.
Sure, Tedesco may be the most innovative fullback in the competition.
Sure, Woods may be regarded as one of the most reliable props in the competition.
But nobody in their right mind would claim that Moses and Brooks have reached the top tier of halves pairings in a consistent way.
Instead, the Big Four is more about spirit and potential.
For one thing, all four players have represented the Tigers for their entire careers.
But, as any footy fan will know, the connections go much deeper than that.
Brooks and Moses have been working together ever since they were at high school, where they played first and second receiver with Holy Cross Rhinos.
Tedesco, too, has a rich connection with the Tigers’ heritage, having started Year 7 at St. Gregory’s in Campbelltown as Chris Lawrence was completing Year 12 .
He also played alongside David Nofoaluma for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matthews Cups.
In addition, Tedesco turned down a more lucrative opportunity at the Raiders in order to remain with Brooks, Moses and Woods.
Time and again, these players have articulated their need to grow and mature together.
That kind of synergy is rare in the NRL.
In the absence of Robbie Farah, it seems even more powerful.
While the Big Four may have talent then, they’re not primarily about talent.
Nobody would argue that they bear much resemblance to the Storm’s Big Three, or to the Warriors’ up-and-coming Big Three.
Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are three of the best players ever to have graced the field, while Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are a largely untested entity, a hypothesis that hasn’t yet been proven or disproven.
The Tigers’ Big Four is a different thing entirely – a group of players who have recaptured the local spirit and synergy of a club that seemed to be suffering an identity crisis for much of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Even if they were to be replaced by brilliant players from elsewhere, their departure would therefore feel like something of a setback.
No other current NRL spine has the same potential to galvanise club identity over the next few years if only the coaching and management gets it right.
GC Dave
Guest
I'm sick to death of people calling these the big four. The only must keep is Tedesco. Woods is great but if the Dogs offer him $1m a season as reported, then buy three hard working big guys. McQueen is a good start. The Forward pack for the Tigers is Woods. Let him go and buy more forwards and you would compensate for the loss of over 100m a game and 30+ tackles. I love Woodsie but at $1m the salary cap is not going to balance too well. Then there is the halves with potential. They've had that potential for a couple of years now, and not delivered. Brooks is not worth a big contract, he is a turnstile and fades out of games more than in. I guess when they get flogged you could say that about most. Moses has a good game now and them but is inconsistent. They are egotistical, and the club need to take the mirrors out of the dressing sheds. And the bed socks...shows the cut of the lad doesn't it. No respect for the game at all. Give me back the two rejects the Tigers let go to keep this sad and sorry pair....Te Marie Martin and Blake Austin. The Tigers have done well to not sign the halves, the further the season progresses the less they will need to pay for them. Big Four...please. The big two....okay I'll wear that.
James Ditchfield
Roar Rookie
It's been said before and I'll say it again, you can't win a competition on potential. No matter how much spirit or potential you have, if you can't translate it into on field results something will eventually have to give. Players are judged on their performances, simple as that. Statistical evidence proves that they're not living up to the hype. I believe that they have the ability, but they haven't shown it. The great players have always been able to overcome off-field drama and consistently deliver for their team.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
No, you can't, can you.... :)
Birdy
Guest
The essence of being a sports fan is to be illogical. You cannot reason with an illogical person.
B-Unit
Guest
They definitely do...
Birdy
Guest
An impartial supporter doesn't exist. And why should they?
B-Unit
Guest
You lost me at the second line, you have to give off at least the illusion of impartiality. Hard to take seriously a bloke using terms like 'we' and 'our' in an article about a team he's not in or works for. I know why fans speak that way and I understand you wanting to defend the team you follow, but "Avid Tigers supporter" isn't who I'm looking to for an opinion on a matter like this...
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
Yep, definitely passionate - and, as you've said, there's something so special about local juniors remaining with their club all the way to the top. I've got no doubt we'll eventually find good replacements, but for a team like ours that's torn between two quite disparate catchment areas, that local sense of camaraderie was pretty special - hard not to feel sad at the prospect of it dissipating (and in such unpleasant circumstances too!)
Billy Stevenson
Roar Guru
At the moment the schisms within the club seem to have (understandably) produced quite a bit of self-interest, but I think the "Big Four" are unique among many of the other spine groupings in how they have come up through and remained within the same club system for so long, despite considerable opportunities elsewhere (as well as the fact that they were all local players to begin with). For a club like ours, that's a big deal, especially in the wake of Farah's departure for Souths.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
I love your passion billy, you clearly care about the Tigers. Watching the 91 Panthers win a GF with local boys Alexander, Geyer, Cartwright and Fittler was one of my greatest moments in watching sport. Their connection to the local area made it all the more special. The spirit of Penrith was palpable. But doing this is so rare, time has shown that it is almost impossible to build a team from just local juniors. I heard Phil Gould talking about this very subject. He said when he got to Penrith they had a great pool of juniors but there were some significant gaps and he had to go outside the local area to recruit. It means that the Penrith juniors have some Kiwi's, some country boys, some North Queenslanders and so on. They are not "Westies", they haven't played at St Marys or spent summers swimming the Nepean, or cable skiing at Panthers. So what? If you get people with the right attitude and teach them the values that are important to your club, if they are good they will want to adapt and buy into the teams culture. If the Tigers try and hang onto the dream of winning a GF "made in Campbelltown" they may have to wait many years.
Birdy
Guest
"If only the coaches and nanagement get it right" there in lies all our fears.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's a new angle but I'm not sure how much about Tigers spirit they all are? Seems like the most important people to each of the Big Four is the Big One!
Jeff dustby
Guest
I think you are highly imaginative
The spectator
Guest
The big four tag again, the four off contracted players do appear to be what the tigers need however i feel to much emphasis is being put on them staying tigers for life when there watching the board screw everything up for them. The playing group just lost a pre season so i wouldnt be surprised if one or 2 of the four end up leaving, we know Woodsie is an eagle at heart and Teddy under bellamy, omg ?