Wests Tigers staying positive despite ‘painful’ start to NRL season
Wests Tigers fans haven’t had much to smile about in the opening month of the season, but David Nofoaluma insists his side isn’t giving up hope.
NRL
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Wests Tigers veteran David Nofoaluma admits it is “painful” to be the only NRL side yet to register a win in 2022 but says belief is stronger at the Tigers now than in previous years.
The Tigers haven’t played finals footy since 2011, but things were looking up in the pre-season, with new recruits Tyrone Peachey and Jackson Hastings on the books and champion coach Tim Sheens back at the club for his first full season as head of football performance.
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But the year has started dismally for the Tigers, who most recently coughed up a four-point lead in the 79th minute to lose to the Gold Coast Titans.
A tight loss to the New Zealand Warriors the week before was similarly difficult to swallow.
“It definitely is painful, especially against the Titans,” Nofoaluma said.
But Nofoaluma insisted the Tigers hadn’t given up hope.
Of the players who featured in the loss to the Titans, only Luke Brooks has made more appearances for the Tigers than Nofoaluma, and the veteran winger said the club culture was stronger under Michael Maguire than previous coaches.
“It’s different now,” Nofoaluma said.
“My thinking is that we’re better than what we’ve been before in terms of how we’re building things around the club and the playing group.
“There’s definitely more clarity in what we’re doing around here. We’re not mixed-minded. We know what we have to do. Every player has a job to do and they understand it.
“There’s so much belief here. That’s something that I believe we’re growing, especially this year. I believe we’re unfortunate (not to have won yet).”
Nofoaluma said last-play options remained an area of focus for the Tigers.
In no small part due to Luke Brooks’ penchant for running the footy rather than kicking it, the Tigers have made the third-least kicks and registered the third-least kick metres of any team in the NRL.
The Tigers take the line on more than any other side but struggle to hold onto the footy, with an average completion rate of only 72 per cent.
“There’s areas that we need to improve on, but we know those areas and we’re definitely building,” said Nofoaluma.
“Our defence has been overall really well. It’s just the last plays are hurting us. That’s something that we need to fix.”
The Tigers have the chance to open their account when they face the in-form Sharks on Sunday.
Drop that game and the odds of finals footy stack up even higher against the Tigers – in the NRL era, only one team has recovered from a 0-5 start and made the finals (the 1999 Brisbane Broncos).
Originally published as Wests Tigers staying positive despite ‘painful’ start to NRL season
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