It hasn’t been a good year for the Wests Tigers.
Tim Simona has been de-registered for betting on NRL games. Coach Jason Taylor was sacked three weeks into the season. And James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, and Mitchell Moses have signed contracts with other teams, with the latter lining up against the Tigers this weekend.
But just how bad has it been for the 2005 Premiers?
It turns out it’s been really bad. Statistically 2017 has been the worst season in their history as a joint venture. Ivan Cleary’s men have won four out of 17 matches and sit in 15th position heading into Round 20, which is the least amount of wins and points in their history.
Only one of those victories have come at home (beating Canterbury 18-12 at ANZ Stadium in Round 8), and they’ve only won four of nine matches when leading at half-time.
This was evidenced on Sunday as the Tigers led 16-8 after 47 minutes only to go on to lose 28-16 to Manly. Their 101 second half points is the fewest in the league while the 250 they’ve conceded is the second worst. It was also the 11th time this season they have only scored a maximum of six second half points.
Changing coaches has not changed their fortunes, the Tigers have gone on one four-match losing streak and recently ended a seven-match winless run. They haven’t won back-to-back in 21 matches.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
As a team it has been bad but it’s not much better personally. Halfback Luke Brooks has six try assists, the lease in the league in his position.
Kevin Naiqama is their leading try scorer with six which is the fourth lowest out of players who regularly play on the wing. And their mid-season signing Tui Lolohea is already the leading point scorer with 42, 18 more points than second-most Naiqama.
Sure the Tigers still have seven matches to turn their form around and avoid the wooden spoon but it’s not looking promising at the moment.
However with the likes of Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer, and Chris McQueen set to come into the side next season it might not be long before the see the Tigers return to being a top eight side for the first time since 2011.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Watch some of the games from 2014-2016, Teddy was setting up tries. He was one of the top 3 fullbacks for try assists last year, plus he actually has a handy short kicking game. Oddly, he has stopped passing this season. Watch him smash it when he's actually caring.
Gaz
Guest
Cleary was a thinking player and now a thinking coach, both warriors and Panthers both made finals under his instincts and player recruitment. Enough negativity, try optimism for a change
Gaz
Guest
Pessimists. Cleary always has a plan , he was a thinking player, now a thinking coach , warriors and Panthers both made finals under his instincts and player recruitment. Try some optimism.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
If he's such a bad coach, why are you still so dirty about him requesting a release from the Warriors one year before his contract expired?
Lincoln Hudson
Guest
Lets be very clear !!! The culture at tigers is so bad it wouldn't matter if we had the best 5 players in the game , the tigers would still find a way to lose games !!!! The best thing the tigers have done in over10 years was to get a coach Ivan Cleary who had the balls and brain to change the culture,,, that he has started to do , not one player runs the club , next year the tigers will turn up and play a hard game , they might not be the best but they won't be soft , they will turn up and play footy . Not rely on teddy or woodsy to turn up !!! Like they do now and then Best news ever GET ON THE BUS
Jacko
Guest
And they signed Cleary as a coach...Now THAT is a bad year
Tim
Guest
Hope so, I've run out of excuses in explaining to my mother, why her favourite coloured footy team has lost again !
Wild Eagle
Guest
The poor old Tigers had some terrible luck with injuries a few seasons back and lost some real stars forever. It will be interesting to see how Josh Reynolds goes at the Tigers and I'd like to see him play a different role to the one he has at the dogs. He is really bad at being a key play maker who receives the ball in a traditional 5/8 backline igniting position yet he is unreal in broken play hovering around like the junk yard dog. Maybe he should pack in at lock after coming of the bench and just roam around like a pest and cause trouble.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
A lot of people readily rip into Woods, and don't see him as much of a loss. He's been lambasted post origin for his work in games 2 & 3. Packer and Matulino together are better than Woods on his own, so it will be better up front. Tedesco is a funny one. He makes a LOT of run metres, but I think those stats are elevated because he gets tackled with the ball so much. How often does he get the ball on the wrap around / sweep play near the line and get tackled? He rarely puts a kick through, nor throws a well-executed pass to his centre or winger. His strength is he is an elusive runner, with the great ability to break tackles; but he is not creative. Therefore, he needs creativity from his 9, 7 & 6 to truly shine (ala Origin). The Tigers just don't have that, and I think Lolohea at 1 next year, with his ball-playing skills will compliment the rest of the Tigers spine more than Teddy does currently. Further, I think Brooks et al currently believe their best attacking play is to just shovel it to Teddy, which compounds the issue. Therefore, I think you'll see a very different, and vastly superior attacking Tigers team next year.
mushi
Guest
Yep I’d say 2013 was worse at -12.5 per game, that was a capitulation for the ages. I agree that the singings aren’t going to make them much better. Yay Reynolds and McQueen, who cares that two rep players in Tedesco and Woods are heading through the exit door at the same time!
jeff dustby
Guest
i would say they have had plenty of seasons as bad as this one. they have made the finals twice in 20 years? and next year wont be much better with those ok signings