The Wests Tigers 2015 season is on the line after a 27-20 capitulation to the Gold Coast Tigers tonight at Leichhardt Oval.
Apart from a short burst between the 58th and 68th minute when the Tigers suddenly came to life, scored three tries and got the lead for the first time, the rest of the game was one the team would no doubt rather forget.
Coach Jason Taylor’s much vaunted emphasis on defence was nowhere to be seen as the visitors crossed for three easy tries in the first half to lead 16-2.
The Tigers’ only points were the first of the match after five minutes, when Pat Richards kicked a penalty goal.
After the break the Titans went further ahead with a penalty goal to make it 18-2 in the 51st minute and a field goal put the visitors 17 points ahead just a few minutes later.
But two minutes later Chris Lawrence, playing in the back row, scored the first of two tries, to bring the Tigers back in the game.
Tedesco scored three minutes later and then Lawrence touched down for his second and all of a sudden the Tigers were one point ahead on the scoreboard at 20-19.
But the visitors hit back with another easy try to regain the lead with eight minutes to go.
When they kicked a penalty goal with two minutes to go on the clock it gave them a seven point buffer and that was the final score – 27-20 – when the full time siren was blown.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]The Tigers were missing stars Robbie Farah and Curtis Sironen but it doesn’t explain the lack of energy in the team.[/social_quote]
It certainly doesn’t explain the lack of defence, which was missing in action for most of the match.
The time may be coming when Jason Taylor has to go back to the drawing board.
Nobody disagrees with his emphasis on defence, but the team may just be hamstrung by having too much structure in the game plan.
