Their position on the ladder wont change but Mick Potter has a strong sense his players want to finish the 2013 Telstra Premiership season off on a positive note.
Sitting in 14th place on the ladder, Wests Tigers play their final premiership match of the season in Townsville this Saturday night against the eight-placed North Queensland. A win to the Cowboys will cement them a spot in the final series beginning next week.
The match marks the final appearance of five-eighth Benji Marshall in a Wests Tigers jersey after 11 seasons.
The brilliant playmaker was last week presented with life membership of Wests Tigers along with club captain and hooker Robbie Farah.
There might not be much to play for but we want to win. Two points lets everyone know we are still here, Potter said after training today.
The players want to win. They gave that indication last week regardless what the stakes were.
It is mentally tough to do that and to be that enthusiastic when you know you are not going to be in the eight.
I commend what they are doing at training and am really happy with how they are going. I want it to transfer on to the field on Saturday night.
In a difficult season for Wests Tigers, Potter said he took some satisfaction out of seeing the likes of youngsters David Nofoaluma, James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen develop in the NRL despite still being eligible for the U20s competition.
They made it on their own merits, not because we had injuries. They made it because they were the best players in those positions and that is fantastic.
Players like Tim Simona, Ava Seumanufagai, Jack Buchanan and Sauaso Sue have nearly got to the point where they are saying Im a first grader.
The experience of this year has been great for them in that aspect.
As for his own first season as Head Coach in the NRL, Potter reflected with a smile.
Ive enjoyed the challenge. There has been some really enjoyable moments and some not so enjoyable moments with how the media are here in Australia, he said.
It was no big surprise. They have things they want to get out and make a story. It is great rugby league is headline news for the community and it is good that it is right up there.
Ive enjoyed the football aspect, the recruitment, and the mentoring aspect of the younger players.
Sitting in 14th place on the ladder, Wests Tigers play their final premiership match of the season in Townsville this Saturday night against the eight-placed North Queensland. A win to the Cowboys will cement them a spot in the final series beginning next week.
The match marks the final appearance of five-eighth Benji Marshall in a Wests Tigers jersey after 11 seasons.
The brilliant playmaker was last week presented with life membership of Wests Tigers along with club captain and hooker Robbie Farah.
There might not be much to play for but we want to win. Two points lets everyone know we are still here, Potter said after training today.
The players want to win. They gave that indication last week regardless what the stakes were.
It is mentally tough to do that and to be that enthusiastic when you know you are not going to be in the eight.
I commend what they are doing at training and am really happy with how they are going. I want it to transfer on to the field on Saturday night.
In a difficult season for Wests Tigers, Potter said he took some satisfaction out of seeing the likes of youngsters David Nofoaluma, James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen develop in the NRL despite still being eligible for the U20s competition.
They made it on their own merits, not because we had injuries. They made it because they were the best players in those positions and that is fantastic.
Players like Tim Simona, Ava Seumanufagai, Jack Buchanan and Sauaso Sue have nearly got to the point where they are saying Im a first grader.
The experience of this year has been great for them in that aspect.
As for his own first season as Head Coach in the NRL, Potter reflected with a smile.
Ive enjoyed the challenge. There has been some really enjoyable moments and some not so enjoyable moments with how the media are here in Australia, he said.
It was no big surprise. They have things they want to get out and make a story. It is great rugby league is headline news for the community and it is good that it is right up there.
Ive enjoyed the football aspect, the recruitment, and the mentoring aspect of the younger players.
