Devastated captain’s live TV cross proves Wests Tigers are broken

James Tamou was absolutely gutted as he fronted the cameras just minutes after one of Wests Tigers’ most humiliating ever defeats.

James Tamou was absolutely gutted.

Wests Tigers captain James Tamou cut a devastated figure as he gave a brutally honest assessment of where his team sits after a humiliating 66-16 defeat to Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Tigers had a confidence-boosting win over the previously undefeated Panthers in Round 13 but have since been thumped by the Eels (40-12) and Storm.

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Tamou faced up for TV interview with Fox Sports shortly after full-time and hinted at the joint-venture club’s problems as it slumped to 14th on the ladder.

“I think there are a lot of underlying issues that we’ve got to sort out, that started last week against Parramatta,” Tamou said.

“We’ve got a habit at the moment, we think we’re going alright and then we let things like this happen. Storm taught us a valuable lesson tonight.”

Asked specifically by Braith Anasta about what those “underlying issues” were, a visibly shattered Tamou added: “Last week we missed over 40 tackles, there was obviously a short turnaround but something we needed to address.

“It’s something we need to address if we want to compete against the good sides.”

Tamou also said in-fighting started to erupt among the players as the scoreline blew out on the Sunshine Coast.

“Near the end there we were starting to get at each other, and I think that’s the last thing we need at the moment,” he said.

“Start pointing the finger, only the soft ones do that. We need to be strong, we need to come together, we need to sort this out ourselves.

“I think as the captain and the leaders of this side, it’s up to us to sort out. We’ve got to come together first before we fix anything.”

The Tigers are a rabble. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Coach Michael Maguire, renowned for his halftime sprays and chair-kicking, was rendered speechless by his side’s inept display in the opening 40 minutes, unable to find the words to adequately express his disappointment in the team.

Tamou said it was “refreshing” to hear young players in the team speak up as Maguire left them to their own devices at the break, but former NSW hooker Michael Ennis said it was worrying the senior leaders didn’t step up in that moment.

“James Tamou is trying to do the right thing and defend his side … I was alarmed that the young guys were talking at halftime,” Ennis told Fox League.

“At halftime, that was the time for their senior leaders to stand up and take ownership of what had just unfolded.

“There’s huge problems at the Wests Tigers, there’s no denying that. Leadership is a real concern.

“When they were standing in a huddle behind their line (trainer) Robbie Farah was the one talking, there didn’t seem to be any other chat coming out of their (players).

“Tonight is the night I think Michael Maguire learned a lot about some individuals in his side, and it’s time he started to make some hard decisions.”