‘Terrible’: Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire fumes after schoolboy error

Needles to say, Tigers coach Michael Maguire was not impressed with this an “inexcusable” blunder during Sunday afternoon’s clash.

Joseph Leilua reacts to the blunder.

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire was left fuming in the viewing box following an “inexcusable” blunder during Sunday evening’s match against the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Twenty minutes into the round eight clash at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, the Tigers were awarded a scrum 30 metres out from their own tryline, trailing by six points.

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Tigers youngster Jake Simpkin retrieved the footy from the back of the scrum and passed it across to teammate Joseph Leilua.

But the referees quickly called the blatant forward pass, gifting the Dragons a set of six in their forward half.

Cameras panned towards a fuming Maguire, who needless to say was not impressed with the schoolboy error.

"That's inexcusable."

Madge does not look happy after this error from the Tigers ❌

🏈 #NRLDragonsTigers
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— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 2, 2021

“That’s inexcusable, that’s terrible,” former Cronulla star Michael Ennis told Fox League.

“That’s a metre forward … both parties to blame. Joey Leilua overrunning the football, but Simpkin had enough time to keep that one in his hands.

“This just gives the Dragons a great opportunity.”

The mistake was quickly rectified when Tigers centre Tommy Talau dived over in the 23rd minute to even the scores at 6-6.

Simpkin has played three games for the Tigers since making his NRL debut last month — he started the 2021 season representing Western Suburbs in the New South Wales Cup.

Leilua was demoted to reserve grade earlier this season after the Tigers suffered consecutive heavy defeats.

Dragons five-eighth Corey Norman kicked a penalty goal in the 28th minute to give the hosts a narrow two-point lead at halftime.

Earlier in the first half, Dragons centre Zac Lomax went off the field with a suspected broken thumb.

After the break, Leilua redeemed himself by bursting through a tackle on the left wing and scoring a decisive try in the 65th minute.

Joey Leilua is just too strong! 💪#TelstraPremiership#NRLDragonsTigerspic.twitter.com/oZDxIFApau

— NRL (@NRL) May 2, 2021

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Maguire may have started this week hanging onto his job by a thread.

Now it might be on the strength of an unlikely mullet – as well as the play of Adam Doueihi – after the Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 16-8 victory over St George Illawarra.

Doueihi was the shining light in a dour game littered with poor attacking play, handling errors and missed tackles, with the Tigers five-eighth clearly a class above his counterparts.

The Lebanese international played a hand in all three of the Tigers tries on Sunday evening, and mastered a fierce southerly by nailing two clutch sideline conversions.

But while Doueihi has emerged as Maguire’s go-to man this year, the embattled coach may just have unearthed a new cult hero in winger Zac Cini.

The Penrith junior – and his estimated 100 raucous entourage in the southeast corner of WIN Stadium – stole the spotlight with a debut to remember.

Called up for the injured James Roberts, the 20-year-old with the wild blonde mullet claimed his maiden try, was denied another, and even produced a try-saver in the first half.

His effort, combined with Doueihi’s classy play and a strong effort from Daine Laurie, was enough to ease the pressure on Maguire for at least a week.

— with NCA NewsWire