Livid Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has questioned his players’ character after their shock 28-23 NRL loss to Gold Coast Titans, saying they need to have a “good look in the mirror”.
Maguire didn’t pull any punches after the Titans ended a 14-game losing streak with Sunday’s upset at Suncorp Stadium, saying he was “sick and tired” of the joint venture’s inconsistency.
The Tigers mentor accused his outfit of being complacent against the Titans, whose last win was back in June 9 last year, before taking aim at their mercurial form.
“I am sick and tired of the ups and downs of our performances, we need to change that,” he said of the Tigers’ 2-2 record.
“That’s what this club has been (inconsistent). I didn’t want to say that but it’s the truth.
“People talk about whether or not we win the big games or challenge the big teams or play less against the lower teams – well, that’s character.
“We need to fix that. We need to fix it fast. I have seen a little bit of that over my period and we all need to change that.”
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
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After an impressive last-round win over Cronulla, the Tigers were overwhelming favourites against the Titans, who had gone almost a year without a win.
And they looked on track, piling on 12 unanswered points in the first 13 minutes and overcoming a Gold Coast fightback to lead 22-12 early in the second half.
Even after the Titans stunned the Tigers by hitting back to level the scores in the 69th minute, the visitors still looked home when veteran Benji Marshall calmly slotted a 77th-minute field goal to give them a 23-22 lead.