Finding consistency will be Ivan Cleary’s hardest task as Tigers coach

COOPER Cronk’s press conference had a lesson that everyone at the Wests Tigers should learn as they prepare for the Ivan Cleary era to begin.

Melbourne Storm's Cooper Cronk announces his move to the Harbour City in 2018 at AAMI Park. Picture: Tony Gough

I HOPE the Wests Tigers players, and the board, sat and listened to the interview Cooper Cronk conducted this week on Fox Sports.

Cronk was asked what he would look back on in years to come to explain what it was that made Melbourne such a force for so many years.

He spoke about stability in leadership, having the best people in the right positions and, above all, working hard, together, consistently.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Tigers bounce back this weekend against North Queensland.

You only have to think back to their performance in round 22 last year against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval to remember what this group of players are capable of.

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That afternoon the Tigers walked away with a 26-14 win on the back of high intensity and hard work.

The problem for Ivan Cleary is not going to be getting them up for this week, but next week, and the week after.

For too long the Tigers have been masters at finding a way to shift blame when the going gets tough, from the board down to the players.

Cleary was appointed earlier this week.

Almost always the fault has landed directly at the coach’s feet, killing three careers now in five years.

Yes, Cleary is exactly the man this club needs right now.

His ‘get on the bus or get off it’ mentality might initially unsettle a few, but ultimately it is the only way forward.

Though, as Cronk explained, Cleary can’t do it alone.

To turn this club around it has to start at the top, and work its way through every level.