‘Out of control’: Ex-players and journos at odds over Tigers pokies reveal
The Wests Tigers pokies drama has divided former players and reporters in the aftermath of the club’s drubbing against Newcastle.
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Players and reporters have been left at odds over the Wests Tigers pokies drama in the aftermath of the club’s 26-4 thrashing at the hands of an understrength Newcastle Knights.
Despite missing the likes of Dave Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga, Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey, the Tigers were demolished by the Novocastrians in Newcastle, adding more pressure to the underachieving club.
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A Daily Telegraph report earlier on Tuesday revealed Tigers stars Daine Laurie and James Roberts were playing on the pokies in Newcastle the night before the lacklustre performance.
The Tigers had travelled to Newcastle in advance of the Sunday afternoon match and Laurie and Roberts were playing on pokies just a few hundred metres from their hotel and reportedly spent an hour at the Great Northern Hotel.
Fox League’s NRL 360 host Paul Kent laid into the Tigers over the drama, saying the issue points to the culture at the club as the Tigers have not made the finals since 2010.
The Tigers have made the finals just three times since becoming a joint venture between the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies in 2000, winning the premiership in 2005.
“The problem the Tigers have got is they’re trying to fight their recent history,” Kent said. “There’s a history of no success, they haven’t made the finals since 2010, there are players at the club who have never played finals who have been there all their careers.
“I get that players have unusual pre-game habits but when you’re trying to change your culture and you’re trying to change around your results you don’t give yourself these excuses, you don’t give yourselves these outs. That’s what the Tigers are fighting against because it doesn’t look like they’re doing all they can, they might say they are, but it doesn’t look like they are doing all they can to have success.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio chimed in and said it was a sign of disrespect for coach Michael Maguire, who once again is under the spotlight.
“It’s an up yours to the coach,” he said. “We saw it last year with the Dragons, players do it to Anthony Griffin with the BBQ and Paul Vaughan. And what happened to Paul Vaughan, they got rid of him.”
Kent added that the lack of success was now endemic with the club and said all the little slights over the season add up when the club hasn’t made finals in 12 years.
Former Tigers player Braith Anasta said he didn’t have an issue with the act of going out but that the players put a target on their heads by going out on a Saturday night to a crowded pub.
“If you don’t perform well the next day, what do you think’s going to happen?” he said.
Fox Sports NRL reporter James Hooper said the Tigers’ reaction was “what’s the big deal” as the players weren’t breaking restrictions or curfew and weren’t drinking, which he said “shows where the Wests Tigers are at”.
Kent continued and said that the way to keep the spotlight off them is to continue to perform well and that Tim Sheens would need to draw a line in the sand.
He added: “When the Wests Tigers finally win a competition, there is not one player at the club right now who will be part of that club”.
“If you want to go out and have your little weird pre-match rituals if you’re winning, you’ve earned the right,” Kent said. “Shane Warne, he used to have some horrific nights before he’d go out to play but then he’d come out and spin the ball three yards, take six wickets and everyone would be like ‘keep doing it Warney’. If you’ve earned the right, do what you like.”
But while the reporters appeared to have an issue with Laurie and Roberts activities, Tigers legend Benji Marshall, who orchestrated the Wests Tigers’ 2005 premiership victory, said he didn’t have a problem with the act of playing the pokies.
“I’m a bit puzzled by this, they’re grown men, they can make their own decisions,” he said. “They’re not breaking the law, they’re not drinking alcohol, they were home by 10.30pm.
“Everyone’s routine is different, they’re entitled to do what they want to do before a game and the outrage to me has been out of control, it’s a storm in a teacup. They’re not going great but there are 15 other guys in the team that didn’t play well.
“What’s the difference with going to an RSL and having a schnitzel with your family until 10 o’clock?”
Kent said the results matter, while Marshall responded that some players do the same preparation before each game and that the Tigers cop “more flack than most other clubs”.
Earlier on Fox’s NRL Tonight, former Eels skipper Tim Mannah said he believed it was not a big deal.
“I remember when I was playing, I’d go for a walk for ice cream at about 10pm,” he said. “You get the whole day to sleep in the next day and everyone’s got their own routine about what time they actually go to sleep. I’m not a huge fan of pokies personally but I’d be lying if I was to say there aren’t players doing it and a lot of guys do it as a way to pass time.
“I just find it funny that when a team is struggling these stories start popping around. Because I can guarantee you that there are teams all around the competition and this is happening every week at different teams and never spoken about but all of a sudden you start losing and going through a rough patch and all of a sudden, it’s a story. I’ve seen it a few years ago with the Broncos, happened at the Eels a few years ago as well. It just seems to come up every time a team is struggling.”
Former Manly and Souths hardman Mark Carroll also said it was a bit much.
“Seriously, they weren’t out on the drink, everyone’s got their own routine before a big game,” he said. “I’m not a poker machine guy either, I like having my sleep, eating my potatoes. But just because they’re losing, they’re looking for an excuse.”
Originally published as ‘Out of control’: Ex-players and journos at odds over Tigers pokies reveal
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