Wests Tigers Holden Cup Coach Todd Payten today talks about the 'most frustrating loss in his coaching career' in his weekly blog.
TODD'S BLOG
We certainly let a real opportunity slip on Friday night at Leichardt against the Warriors. We missed a chance to cement a position in the top 4 which is a priority for the finals. It has left us exposed in 6th spot with a very congested table from 5th to 10th.
I thought we had turned the corner with our season in the way we were playing but the last 2 weeks we have been poor in different areas which leaves me extremely frustrated and disappointed.
We had the Warriors out on their feet at the 15 minute mark and were creating opportunities but lacked the execution, patience and discipline to score points when really we should have won by 20 or more.
Our team goal was to go set for set with them knowing we would have superior fitness than them later in each half. It was certainly playing out that way but every time we got a half chance, there was a pushed pass or when we had them under pressure in their end, we piggy back them back down our end through penalties.
We also knew that if we gave them half a sniff they would grow a leg and become very hard to stop which they did. The scores were locked at 6 all at half time.
Our first defensive set in the second half was an indication of what was to come. They were able to march down field and put in an attacking kick in. We were coming out of our end all day. The penalty count ended up 10-5 to them and they were coming on tackles 3,4 and 5.
We just kept making things harder for ourselves. The defensive workload affected the way we attacked. We were flat and tried to win pretty. It was really ugly. They scored two tries late to get a ten point victory to round the most frustrating loss Ive experienced as a coach.I made my feeling known after the match.
Best by a million miles was Andy Fiagatusa. He has consistently been in our best 3 players for at least ten weeks. He ran the ball well for 138 metres continually finding his front in traffic. I have enjoyed coaching Andy over the last 2 years. He wants to learn. He has the right work ethic to kick on with his career.
Nathan Brown did well off the bench giving us some impact. He also looked and moved better than when he returned against Cronulla.
Kurtis Rowe was solid on the wing. He has been playing out of position with no complaint and goes about his work giving us some energy out of our own end.
TODD'S BLOG
We certainly let a real opportunity slip on Friday night at Leichardt against the Warriors. We missed a chance to cement a position in the top 4 which is a priority for the finals. It has left us exposed in 6th spot with a very congested table from 5th to 10th.
I thought we had turned the corner with our season in the way we were playing but the last 2 weeks we have been poor in different areas which leaves me extremely frustrated and disappointed.
We had the Warriors out on their feet at the 15 minute mark and were creating opportunities but lacked the execution, patience and discipline to score points when really we should have won by 20 or more.
Our team goal was to go set for set with them knowing we would have superior fitness than them later in each half. It was certainly playing out that way but every time we got a half chance, there was a pushed pass or when we had them under pressure in their end, we piggy back them back down our end through penalties.
We also knew that if we gave them half a sniff they would grow a leg and become very hard to stop which they did. The scores were locked at 6 all at half time.
Our first defensive set in the second half was an indication of what was to come. They were able to march down field and put in an attacking kick in. We were coming out of our end all day. The penalty count ended up 10-5 to them and they were coming on tackles 3,4 and 5.
We just kept making things harder for ourselves. The defensive workload affected the way we attacked. We were flat and tried to win pretty. It was really ugly. They scored two tries late to get a ten point victory to round the most frustrating loss Ive experienced as a coach.I made my feeling known after the match.
Best by a million miles was Andy Fiagatusa. He has consistently been in our best 3 players for at least ten weeks. He ran the ball well for 138 metres continually finding his front in traffic. I have enjoyed coaching Andy over the last 2 years. He wants to learn. He has the right work ethic to kick on with his career.
Nathan Brown did well off the bench giving us some impact. He also looked and moved better than when he returned against Cronulla.
Kurtis Rowe was solid on the wing. He has been playing out of position with no complaint and goes about his work giving us some energy out of our own end.
