Keith Galloway says coach Jason Taylor isn’t to blame for the Tigers’ woes

KEITH Galloway says he and his Wests Tigers teammates are to blame for the side’s woes and not coach Jason Taylor.

Keith Galloway of the Tigers and Tim Grant of Souths head to head during the Souths v Wests Tigers NRL round 3 game at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. pic Mark Evans

KEITH Galloway says he and his Wests Tigers teammates are to blame for the side’s woes and not coach Jason Taylor.

Taylor was in the firing line of Tigers fans following their 35-12 mauling at the hands of Penrith at Leichhardt Oval last weekend.

After centre Tim Simona was taken from the field with an ankle injury, the Panthers exploited the Tigers’ brittle left side. Many questioned why Taylor moved second-rower Kyle Lovett to the centres after Dean Whare and David Simmons brutally exposed the youngster, running four tries past him before he was finally hooked.

Penrith's Dean Whare beats Tigers Kyle Lovett to set up a try for David Simmons. Pic Brett Costello

After the game Taylor said the match wasn’t lost because their backline was badly outclassed, and defended not moving Chris Lawrence into the centres sooner.

The Tigers have won just two of their past 10 and are equal last with just five wins.

They made a big noise about drawing a line in the sand following their win over South Sydney three weeks ago however that has been washed away after losses to Manly and Penrith.

Galloway says the Tigers playing group needs to take ownership for the slump and Taylor and his coaching staff are not to blame. “We’re working hard and things like that,” Galloway said on Thursday.

“It’s definitely not from effort or things like that.

“The coaches put a pretty good game plan together and we didn’t execute it well enough (against Penrith).” Against Parramatta on Monday, the Tigers will have to find a way to win without their State of Origin stars Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods.

Galloway urged patience from fans, some of whom booed Taylor at Leichhardt Oval last week.

“It’s obviously very tough on the fans. We started the year fairly well and we haven’t been going too well lately,” he said. “But we’re trying hard and we’re working hard.”

Originally published as Keith Galloway says coach Jason Taylor isn’t to blame for the Tigers’ woes