Blog

When we last visited Tiger Town, there wasn’t a lot of positivity. So what has changed?

Jackson Hastings

What a breath of fresh air Jackson Hastings has made in his two games with the West Tigers. Despite being suspended, Jackson has made sure his presence is known by paying to fly up to the Gold Coast to support the team and be in the coaches box.

His honest appraisal of his team in Round 1 is exactly what the Wests Tigers need.

Returning from suspension, Madge has given him the keys to Tiger Town and named him at half-back.

Luke Brooks

Which brings us to the elephant in the room.

In my opinion, Adam Doueihi and Jock Madden are better placed to partner Hastings.

Luke Brooks who takes up close to $1M of the salary cap has been moved to five-eighth. This is after Coach ‘Madge’ Maguire publicly stated Brooks will play representative football as half-back under his watch this year.

Brooks asked for a release twice during the offseason. It would have been the best thing for both player and club. I hope he does well this week.

Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire

There are not a lot of NRL Head Coaching jobs available so I understand why Madge is fighting tooth and nail for his role.

He is finally making big calls accommodating Hastings at the expense of half Brooks and dropping some of his leadership team.

Maguire is a premiership winning coach taking both Wigan Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs to premiership glory. The Wests Tigers face the Eels and Rabbotohs before squaring up with their perrenial whipping boys the Dragons in Round 8.

By then it will be all too late.