Poor discipline proves costly as Tigers thump Western Clydesdales

With premiers Brisbane Tigers clawing out a massive win at the weekend, we’ve identified the key issues the Western Clydesdales need to fix to get into the Hostplus Cup winner’s circle.

Luke Rouland (pictured right in a trial game against Canterbury Bulldogs) was impressive off the bench for the Western Clydesdales on Saturday. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The trip back up Darren Lockyer Way would’ve been a long and quiet one for the Western Clydesdales on Saturday.

Away to defending Hostplus Cup premiers Brisbane Tigers, the Clydesdales were thumped 48-0.

The Clydesdales had more than a few opportunities to break their scoring duck, but the Tigers were clinical as they crossed the line nine times in the match.

Here are the five biggest talking points from the match.

Early try – near perfect response

When Tigers winger Ronald Philitoga dived over to open the scoring just two minutes into the game, the Clydesdales looked to be in real trouble.

The Clydesdales, however, responded in near perfect fashion with a Luke Jurd grubber kick defused by the Tigers’ defence just 1m off their own goal line.

In the next 10 minutes of play the Clydesdales tested the Tigers with prop Tui Oloapu held up over the line.

The Tigers then repelled another Clydesdales’ attacking raid before doubling their advantage through a Tristan Powell try in the 16th minute.

An immediate response to the Tigers’ early try would’ve been a huge confidence booster for the Clydesdales, but their inability to capitalise on chances was a telling factor in their heavy defeat.

A step or two short

A round three bye and the competition wide Easter break meant the Clydesdales were playing their first game in three weeks, and it showed.

The Clydesdales were a little too passive in defence at times with the Tigers making comfortable yards up the middle.

Coach Jason Alchin would not want to see his players bolting off the lines and leaving gaps for the attack to exploit, but at the same time he probably would’ve liked to see his team be a little more aggressive in attack.

Too often the Tigers ability to work easily up the middle gave them the time and space to spread the ball wide on the next play and drag the Clydesdales out of position.

Blake Lenehan played with great energy of the bench for the Western Clydesdales on Saturday. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Frequent ruck penalties.

Since taking the Western Clydesdales coaching reins in June 2022, Jason Alchin has talked about building disciplined squads who work hard from kick-off to full-time.

The former NSWRL premiership-winning Canterbury fullback would’ve left Totally Workwear Stadium in Brisbane extremely frustrated on Saturday.

A steady flow of ruck infringements proved costly with the Clydesdales handing the Tigers great field position through cheap, ill-disciplined penalties.

Tigers halves Ryley Jacks and Jonah Pezet had a field day – expertly steering their teammates around the field and turning repeat sets into regular points.

The Clydesdales need to tidy up that area of their game if they want any chance of winning this season.

Exciting play – no end result

With the ball in hand, the Clydesdales troubled the Tigers’ defence on a few occasions and were even exciting at times.

Unfortunately the closest they got to scoring was about 10 minutes into the game when hooker Drew Timms put Tui Oloapu over the line with a short ball after some quality build up play.

Oloapu was held up over the line, and the Clydesdales missed another opportunity to score shortly after that play.

The Clydesdales have shown they can trouble teams this season, but poor “final plays” at the back end of sets have cost them dearly at times and that was once again evident against the Tigers.

With a few repeat sets they would’ve been able to build pressure, and the game would’ve looked a lot different if the Clydesdales had the confidence a try or two can bring.

Dynamic duo

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Clydesdales at the weekend.

With starting hooker Drew Timms off the field in the 21st minute, Luke Rouland took over the No. 9 role.

Rouland, who normally plays at halfback, didn’t look out of place at hooker and would be a ready made replacement for Timms if Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin needed one this season.

The talented playmaker expertly steered the Clydesdales around the park and was a level head with and without the ball.

Like Rouland, Blake Lenehan was excellent off the bench for the Clydesdales.

The no-nonsense prop led the line in defence, tackling hard and offend, and was never afraid to make the tough runs when it was needed.