End of season review.

[Mr_Raditch]

This is a pretty good article. I figured it deserved it's own thread rather than being buried in the "wests tigers in the media" thread.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/in...hat-have-changed-maguire-20220421-p5af1u.html

Inside the Wests Tigers review: The 6 key takeouts that have changed Maguire​

By Michael Chammas and Tom Decent
APRIL 22, 2022

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire runs his eye over the team at training.CREDIT:GETTY

The Wests Tigers last year conducted an end-of-season review which culminated in the club backing coach Michael Maguire to turn the club’s fortunes around.
The Herald spoke to several key figures at the club to find out the major takeaways from the review and how things have changed at Tiger Town in 2022.

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• REVIEW FINDING #1: CONSTANT CHANGING OF DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

One of the most glaringly obvious concerns from last season was the feeble defence of the football team.
The players raised concerns about a lack of consistency in direction when it came to the blueprint to shut down the opposition.
There was a feeling internally that there wasn’t a defined ‘Wests Tigers’ structure because the systems would change from week to week.
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The review found that players were confused about what to do in different situations on the field, feelings that were exacerbated by video sessions that would often contradict the previous sessions.
A lot was made between the erosion of the relationship between Maguire and certain individuals at the club.
At the heart of tension was a view from the club’s powerbrokers that defensive coach Wayne Collins would need to be moved on at the end of the season.

The Wests Tigers’ defence has improved in 2022.CREDIT:GETTY
Maguire fought strongly to keep his offsider, however it was made clear to him by the club when he fronted the football committee to save his job that there would be a number of changes he would have to adhere to if he continued on as coach.
Maguire has since embraced those changes and appears to have made a positive impact on the team. The introduction of former Sydney Roosters assistant coach Nathan Cayless as defence coach has led to a significant improvement in defence, despite the one win from six games to open the season.
After six rounds last season, with an identical 1-5 win record, the Tigers conceded 178 points (29.7 points per game). This year the Tigers have only conceded 126 points (21 points per game).
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“We definitely weren’t too proud of our defensive record last season but this year we’ve brought in Nathan Cayless and he’s done a tremendous job alongside Madge,” forward Alex Twal said.
“I think even though we haven’t had too many results go our way at the start of the season, I do feel like we’ve built a lot in the defence department and I feel like the boys reaped a lot of rewards on the weekend.
“We’ll continue to build on that. I think we’ve come a long way defensively but I think we’ve got a long way to go.”
There’s a notable difference in the way the team defends this year. On several occasions last year, most notably against South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval in round 16, the Tigers’ edge defenders were either guilty of back-pedalling or not being on the same page, which left them as sitting ducks for the Rabbitohs to pick off.

The Wests Tigers defence last year was caught out retreating too often, including this match against South Sydney in round 16.
“Nathan Cayless has brought in this defensive structure that everyone has bought into,” halfback Jock Madden said. “You can see it’s working on the field. He really nailed it down in pre-season. It’s showing on the paddock now.”
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• REVIEW FINDING #2: LACK OF DELEGATION TO COACHING STAFF

Another issue that was raised in the end-of-season review led by CEO Justin Pascoe was a concern around Maguire’s reluctance to delegate.
While the review confirmed what is widely known - that Maguire’s commitment and work ethic is second to none - there was a view that he was shouldering too much of the workload and responsibility.

The Wests Tigers wanted the people around Maguire to have a voice and challenge the coach on decisions after growing concerned that those close to him were too afraid to speak up against the coach.
The club wanted Maguire’s offsiders to be encouraged, not discouraged, to have robust conversations that ultimately leads to the improvement of the football team.
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The club moved on his two assistants, Shane Millard and Wayne Collins, replacing them with Maguire’s Kiwi Test assistants Cayless and Ben Gardiner.
It has been noted by some inside the club’s inner sanctum that Cayless and Maguire have clashed on a number of occasions - which is deemed an important part of the development of the football team.

New Wests Tigers assistant coaches Nathan Cayless and Ben Gardiner during their time together under Maguire in the New Zealand national side.CREDIT:GETTY
The players have noticed a significant shift in Maguire’s approach to coaching as he has allowed his assistants to take control at various stages.
“He’s taken a step back [in terms of] running meetings,” lock Joe Ofahengaue said of Maguire.
“He lets Nathan Cayless and Gardiner (attack coach Ben Gardiner) run the meetings because they are so good at what they do. He steps in whenever he feels like he needs to but he can get us up for games and that’s what I love about him.”

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[Mr_Raditch]

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• REVIEW FINDING #3: INABILITY TO ATTRACT BIG NAMES AND IMPROVE SENIOR PLAYERS

The Wests Tigers didn’t need a review to discover the club’s shortcomings in the recruitment market.
It’s been well documented how often they have struck out under Maguire when it comes to landing the big fish, but the arrival of Tim Sheens added significant pulling power to the club.
The signature of Jackson Hastings has so far proven to be hugely beneficial for the Wests Tigers, picked up from the Super League on a relatively cheap deal looking for one last chance in the NRL.

Jackson Hastings was the star of the show in the Tigers’ win over Parramatta last week.CREDIT:GETTY
While the signing of Parramatta backrower Isaiah Papali’i was all but done under the watch of former general manager Adam Hartigan, Sheens and Maguire combined to pull off the acquisition of Panthers premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau for 2023 and beyond.
The club found that it had no issues recruiting good young players over the years, however they have lacked the financial backing to retain them when the big clubs come knocking.
The club has recently agreed to significantly boost the funding of its juniors to ensure they not only attract the best talent, but keep them. Having club legend Benji Marshall helping develop the young players has added to the appeal of the program.
That has also been reflected in the appointments of Matt Betsy and Brett Kimmorley, who have overseen the overhaul of the club’s pathways system in the past 12 months.
The other concern that was raised in the review from some of the senior players was a belief that they weren’t improving as individuals. That case is obvious with halfback Luke Brooks.

It’s been a tough season so far for the Tigers - and Luke Brooks.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
The club believes it contributed to senior players at rivals clubs baulking at the prospect of playing under Maguire, which ultimately pushed the club down the path to target youth.
The review found that some of the younger players weren’t having the same issues as the senior players given the development of Stefano Utoikamanu, Jake Simpkin and Daine Laurie over the past 12 months.

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• REVIEW FINDING #4: NEED TO ESTABLISH A WESTS TIGERS CULTURE

Sheens has been quite vocal in trying to get the Tigers to buy into the All Blacks culture, which places a huge emphasis on respect for the entire organisation.
Whether it be cleaning up the dressing rooms after the players are done, turning up to home games in suits or placing an emphasis on discipline and punctuality at training, Sheens is driving a set of standards he wants implemented from the NRL right down to Harold Matthews.

Tim Sheens is settling into his new role at the club.CREDIT:KATE GERAGHTY/SMH
It’s not only a certain culture that the club wants implemented across the board. There are now systems in place to have the whole of club working towards a ‘Wests Tigers’ brand of football.
Similar systems are in place at clubs like Penrith and the Roosters so that young players can easily transition into first grade.

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• REVIEW FINDING #5: INCONSISTENCY IN ATTACKING PLANS AND TEAM CHANGES

While there has been a notable improvement in the team’s defence, the same can’t be said about the attack so far in 2022.
When comparing the first six rounds of last season to this season, it has been highlighted that the defence has improved significantly. The attack though, based on points scored per game, has regressed.
The Tigers’ attack is only better to that of the Bulldogs, scoring 68 points in six games to open the year, while last year they managed 108 points in the same period.

One of the talking points out of last year’s review was to do with confusion as to why the Tigers trained the whole preseason with a certain attacking structure to adapt to the new rules, only to throw it out the window after the first month.
The constant changing of players in and out of first grade was also raised as a potential problem, which Maguire appears to have addressed. The majority of changes over the first six weeks have been forced due to injury and suspension.
However Maguire, after five rounds without success, did decide to make a number of key changes for the game against the Parramatta Eels last week - resulting in success.
The club will be hoping that handing the keys of the castle to Hastings will release the shackles from Brooks and finally deliver a halves pairing capable of leading the team to finals football.

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• REVIEW FINDING #6: MIXED MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION

There were concerns raised in the review around the messaging from the coaching staff and management to the players.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/mr...nder-the-radar-at-tigers-20220420-p5aeuj.html

It wasn’t purely in regards to game plans and strategies, rather around contracts and negotiations. There was also concerns raised about the terminology and messaging coming out of press conferences which didn’t portray a united front.
Certain players also said that Maguire, who is enamoured with Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis, continually referenced his past achievements at South Sydney and Wigan to the point it was frustrating the players.
Maguire has won two premierships in two different competitions and has seen first hand what it takes to achieve success.

 

[Mr_Raditch]

A lot of the points raised are things we fans have been vocally critical about. While I still think we'll be battling it out to avoid the spoon this year, that the club has at least identified what has been going wrong. Fingers crossed they have the talent in the field & behind the scenes to turn it around. The fact it's been made public tends to give me confidence, there's no hiding from the previous mistakes. IMO it at least shows the clubs head is no longer buried in the stand. Who knows maybe it's just wishfull thinking.

 

[Tigerm]

From what has been written above (that's if its legit?), the review seemed to find fault with everything but the players efforts and willingness to have a dig?

I would think that this type of information would be confidential, so how did they get hold of it?

From my understanding, Chammas has always been a very vocal critic of Madge?

 

[WA Tiger]

Madge had a blow up with Cayless…Cayless won!!!! Hahaha

You could see that one coming and The boys would have loved it. Like Finally! Cayless not taking any crap and really setting the tone for future meetings and levels of communication with the players. etc.

Madge just wasn’t listening to anyone. Communication has always been his problem. I knew that as soon as he froze Benji out after which things became progressively worse, and then the unprofessional manner in which he ditched him with no honest dialogue. (Weather you like Benji or not doesnt matter)

That’s always been Madges way of handling things. With all the players and staff. That’s where the fear has come from (and the talk of walking on egg shells) and that fear has spread throughout the team on and off the field. It’s done the players heads in, and that’s why they’ve been playing like shit for so long.

So no it’s not because the players are no good or arnt listening. Madge has had to start listening. And to let Cayless and Gardiner have a voice. The kind of voice that’s been lacking. That ridiculous increase in confidence and potency last week didnt just fall out of the sky, and no it wasn’t just one player, or a position change either. Everything good comes from communication. Everything good and bad comes from the head coach. We on the same page now?