Matulino adamant the key lies in the middle

After coming up short last week against the Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers forwards know winning the middle will be the key to bouncing back this week.

Despite only going down by two points for just their second defeat of the season, the high standards set by Ivan Cleary's side this year show that anything less than their best isn't going to do, with forwards Ben Matulino and Jacob Liddle adamant that improvements were needed in the middle of the field.

"Our defence in the middle wasn't up to scratch and we couldn't really match them," Matulino admitted.

"Their outside backs got a lot of quick play the balls and really marched us down the field, and knowing the way Parramatta start every game at a 100 miles an hour, we've got a tough task for us.

"I think things are starting to click for Parramatta, and they've definitely turned their season around."

"I think we didn't start as strong as we wanted to against Newcastle," hooker Jacob Liddle added.

"That's been the focus for us this week — starting the first half well and really rip in to them.

"I think our attitude needs to improve from last week, but physically we just need to keep doing the same.

"We need better contact against Parramatta's big boys so that's going to be a focus, for sure."

See what Ben Matulino had to say in full about this week's game in the video above!