Acknowledging the axe hangs over his own head, Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has finally used one to chop several players from the team to face the Eels on Easter Monday.
Hooker Jacob Liddle is gone and has been replaced by Jake Simpkin.
Also gone from the team that had a shocker in the 30-4 loss to the Sharks on Sunday are Ken Maumalo, (pictured) Tyrone Peachey, one of Maguire’s new recruits, and Englishman Oliver Gildart.
Maguire could have gone further and there are some players who could consider themselves lucky to have avoided his selection axe.
One of them was James Tamou, who was also a passenger at Shark Park, as was David Nofoaluma.
On the plus side, Jackson Hastings returns after serving a three-match suspension, as does James Roberts who missed last weekend’s game due a back injury.
However Roberts is no longer the deadly “Jimmy the Jet’’, the centre who terrorised defences with his speed.
Hastings has been named at halfback with Luke Brooks shifting to five-eighth.
Fullback Daine Laurie was a late withdrawal at Cronulla after testing positive to Covid-19. He’s serving the mandatory 7-day isolation period but has been named to play.
The Wests Tigers are 0 and 5 and unless they turn it around ASAP, Maguire’s reign will end.
Parramatta will apparently be without a couple of their stars, but who would bet against them putting 50 on Maguire’s sorry lot.
Unfortunately, only an Easter miracle will save the Wests Tigers on Monday at Parramatta.
WESTS TIGERS – ROUND SIX
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Luke Garner
5. Starford To’a
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jackson Hastings
8. James Tamou (c)
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Zane Musgrove
11. Kelma Tuilagi
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Joe Ofahengaue
INTERCHANGE
14. Jock Madden
15. Alex Twal
16. Thomas Mikaele
17. Alex Seyfarth
18. Tyrone Peachey
I HAVE BEEN A TRUE BLUE TIGERS FAN SINCE 1956 BUT NO MORE THIS CLUB IS NOW A JOKE