NRL results 2020: Wests Tigers hammered by coach Michael Maguire after Gold Coast defeat

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has delivered some damning home truths to his team after their last-minute defeat at the hands of the lowly Gold Coast Titans.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 07: Thomas Mikaele of the Tigers looks on during the round four NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium on June 07, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

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Livid Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has questioned his players’ character after their shock 28-23 NRL loss to Gold Coast Titans, saying they need to have a “good look in the mirror”.

Maguire didn’t pull any punches after the Titans ended a 14-game losing streak with Sunday’s upset at Suncorp Stadium, saying he was “sick and tired” of the joint venture’s inconsistency.

The Tigers mentor accused his outfit of being complacent against the Titans, whose last win was back in June 9 last year, before taking aim at their mercurial form.

“I am sick and tired of the ups and downs of our performances, we need to change that,” he said of the Tigers (2-2 record).

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Coach Michael Maguire says things need to change at the Tigers. Picture: Getty

That’s what this club has been (inconsistent). I didn’t want to say that but it’s the truth.

“People talk about whether or not we win the big games or challenge the big teams or play less against the lower teams – well, that’s character.

“We need to fix that. We need to fix it fast. I have seen a little bit of that over my period and we all need to change that.”

After an impressive last round win over Cronulla, the Tigers were overwhelming favourites against the Titans outfit who had gone almost a year without a win.

The Tigers had looked on track for another victory. Picture: Getty

And they looked on track, piling on 12 unanswered points in the first 13 minutes and overcoming a Gold Coast fightback to lead 22-12 early in the second half. Even after the Titans stunned the Tigers by hitting back to level the scores in the 69th minute, the visitors still looked home when veteran Benji Marshall calmly slotted a 77th-minute field goal to give them a 23-22 lead.

However, Titans fullback Phillip Sami broke their drought – and the Tigers’ hearts – with the matchwinning try in the dying moments.

Phillip Sami’s last-minute try was a dagger in the Tigers’ hearts. Picture: Getty

Maguire said the Titans simply wanted it more, prompting another crack at his team.

“If you can’t be hungry to want to win a game of football well you have to have a good look in the mirror,” he said.

“Those are the sort of things that we will be honest about.

“It’s disappointing a few things didn’t go our way and we didn’t defend it.

“That’s what we are striving to be as a team. I thought our defence was nowhere where it needed to be.

“We will all look at each other and look at the game and assess where we need to go moving forward.”

Originally published as NRL results 2020: Wests Tigers hammered by coach Michael Maguire after Gold Coast defeat