Nobody can accuse Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire of being all talk.
After Sunday night’s 28-23 loss to the Gold Coast Titans the premiership winning coach, pictured above, unleashed on the club’s culture of inconsistency.
Forty eight hours later he has followed up his spray with some tough selections, including dropping club legend Benji Marshall for this Saturday night’s clash with Canberra at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Luke Garner, Billy Walters and Michael Jennings also paid the price when the coach named his side earlier this evening.
“I’m sick and tired of the ups and downs of performance – it’s as simple as that,’’ Maguire said after the Titans defeat.
No doubt long suffering Wests Tigers fans everywhere said: amen to that.
“We need to change that. That’s what this club has been,’’ Maguire said.
“I didn’t want to say that but that’s the truth.
“The truth is that we need to fix it as a playing group, a coaching staff and everyone.
“We need to fix the way that our club does things around the way we perform.
“People talk about whether or not we win the big games or challenge the big teams or play less against the lower teams.
“That’s about character. We need to fix that and we need to fix it fast because I’ve seen a bit of it over my period.’’
Josh Reynolds has been named in the halves to replace Marshall [pictured against the Titans] and to partner Luke Brooks.
Tommy Talau and Russell Packer will both play their first games of the year, while Zane Musgrove also returns to the starting side with Thomas Mikaele shifting back to the bench.
Michael Chee Kam joins the side for his first game since round two, while veteran forward Chris Lawrence moves in to the run-on side in place of Luke Garner.
Kickoff for the match is at 7:35pm.
WESTS TIGERS:
1. Adam Doueihi
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Joey Leilua
4. Moses Mbye (captain)
5. Tommy Talau
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Luke Brooks
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Harry Grant
10. Zane Musgrove
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Alex Twal
INTERCHANGE:
14. Thomas Mikaele
15. Russell Packer
16. Michael Chee Kam
17. Alex Seyfarth
RESERVES:
18. Benji Marshall
19. Luke Garner
20. Billy Walters
21. Corey Thompson
