Benji Marshall characterized his team’s defeat against St George Illawarra as their most disappointing of the season, highlighting that the Wests Tigers, amidst their transformation, encountered significant challenges. The Tigers’ performance was marred by early mistakes and conceding easy penalties, leading to a 24-12 loss to the Dragons in front of a capacity crowd at Campbelltown Stadium. Right from the outset, with a penalty given away and an uncontested try by Zac Lomax, the Tigers struggled to stay competitive, showcasing a notable regression from their recent strong showings against Parramatta and Cronulla.
While acknowledging the team’s overall improvement under Marshall’s leadership this season, the match against the Dragons exposed glimpses of the Tigers’ previous struggles, reminiscent of their recent wooden spoon finishes. Marshall expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the deviation from the team’s discussed strategies and execution, attributing the performance to a lack of adherence to established standards and a search for an easy victory rather than earning it through effort.
Looking ahead to their next fixture against Penrith in Bathurst, the Tigers anticipate the return of Lachlan Galvin, who was suspended for a previous tackle. Galvin’s absence was felt against the Dragons, particularly in terms of his playmaking ability and direct approach. Marshall stressed the importance of maintaining physicality and discipline, noting the necessity of consistently showing up with the right mindset and intensity to execute their preferred style of play.
However, the Tigers’ preparation for the upcoming match might be complicated by David Klemmer’s potential suspension following two high tackle incidents in the loss to the Dragons.