Hodgson hopes Tigers can kick on
By Chris Stedman
August 19, 2004
A SINGLE newspaper clipping, photocopied and blown up is stuck on to the glass entrance door to the Wests Tigers' video room.
It can't be missed and although it's written about the fortunes of AFL premiers the Brisbane Lions the synergy is clear.
The tenure of the article was the Lions' dramatic recent form slump which saw them lose successive games after a record-breaking 141-point win. Coach Leigh Matthews identified that win as the catalyst for their slump.
Wests Tigers, eyeing their first finals appearance in five seasons as a joint venture, have been through a similar fate already this season and will be desperately guarding against a repeat when they play the third-placed Broncos in Brisbane on Sunday.
After a golden mid-season run, which included four wins, a narrow loss and culminated in a 50-4 mauling of New Zealand Warriors in Auckland which saw them outright sixth on the table, the Tigers were blown apart by St George Illawarra 50-0 and then Sydney Roosters 56-0 in successive weeks.
Their battle for premiership credibility was shattered amid the reality that they had got ahead of themselves.
Three rounds before the finals the Tigers find themselves in a parallel situation after a record 56-6 win over South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval followed by the bye to be back in the top eight, two points clear of Newcastle, Canberra and Cronulla.
Former NSW Origin fullback Brett Hodgson, who is enjoying an uninterrupted run since transferring from Parramatta where he endured an horrific run of injuries in the past two seasons, is one player the Tigers will look to provide stability and experience in the coming weeks.
His goalkicking aside, Hodgson is among the game's best ball carriers and is the club's leading try-scorer with 11 while his demeanour is evidence of a growing confidence. But he readily admits the pitfalls and pain of the losses to Dragons and Roosters.
"I think we have learnt a lot from that, we got a bit carried away thinking we were at a level which we weren't," Hodgson said.
"The Dragons and Roosters certainly told us that in no uncertain terms, so we have prepared a lot better for the Brisbane game.
"They have been playing very well but they have few injuries and with Gordey suspended it's great opportunity for us."
Brisbane have been savagely hit with injury and suspension stripping them of their three most experienced players. Captain Darren Lockyer is out with a recurrence of rib cartilage damage, prop Shane Webcke has a calf injury while Tallis will miss the match suspended.
To counter that the Tigers have lost teenage sensation Benji Marshall and centre John Wilson for the season while prop John Skandalis's persistent knee injury has ruled him out.
Semi-retired Ben Ikin has answered the Broncos' call to partner Casey McGuire in the halves in Lockyer's absence.
McGuire is a former team-mate of Hodgson at Parramatta but confesses to be unsure of his attributes as a halfback. Tigers coach Tim Sheens thinks McGuire will benefit by assuming the playmaker role with Lockyer out while Ikin will be the main tactical kicker.
"Obviously Tim has done the homework but I'm not familiar with Casey at half. I know he is very strong physically," Hodgson said.
"Having Locky and Webcke out definitely benefits us but they still have about 10 Origin players in their side and it will be tough but we are probably getting them at a good time.
"We have got to hold on to the ball, I don't think any brilliant game plan will win it for us, we just have to compete throughout. Hopefully we can out-enthuse them."
Hodgson attributes a change in technique to his goalkicking success - he trails only the Bulldogs' Hazem El Masri as the season's leading scorer - with a 76 per cent success rate. He has been working with former Australia soccer striker Graham Arnold and is now coming around the ball from a wider angle.
"It took a while to get used to it. For the first 25-30 kicks I was only kicking at 55 per cent but I'm getting more power," Hodgson said.
Hodgson's strike-rate points to a huge advantage over the Broncos with Lockyer joining the club's all-time leading pointscorer Michael De Vere out for the season.
The Tigers completed negotiations with Telstra Stadium management yesterday to play five matches at the 83,500 capacity ground next season.
The home games will be split with Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium each hosting three and Christchurch's Jade Stadium one.
The Australian
By Chris Stedman
August 19, 2004
A SINGLE newspaper clipping, photocopied and blown up is stuck on to the glass entrance door to the Wests Tigers' video room.
It can't be missed and although it's written about the fortunes of AFL premiers the Brisbane Lions the synergy is clear.
The tenure of the article was the Lions' dramatic recent form slump which saw them lose successive games after a record-breaking 141-point win. Coach Leigh Matthews identified that win as the catalyst for their slump.
Wests Tigers, eyeing their first finals appearance in five seasons as a joint venture, have been through a similar fate already this season and will be desperately guarding against a repeat when they play the third-placed Broncos in Brisbane on Sunday.
After a golden mid-season run, which included four wins, a narrow loss and culminated in a 50-4 mauling of New Zealand Warriors in Auckland which saw them outright sixth on the table, the Tigers were blown apart by St George Illawarra 50-0 and then Sydney Roosters 56-0 in successive weeks.
Their battle for premiership credibility was shattered amid the reality that they had got ahead of themselves.
Three rounds before the finals the Tigers find themselves in a parallel situation after a record 56-6 win over South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval followed by the bye to be back in the top eight, two points clear of Newcastle, Canberra and Cronulla.
Former NSW Origin fullback Brett Hodgson, who is enjoying an uninterrupted run since transferring from Parramatta where he endured an horrific run of injuries in the past two seasons, is one player the Tigers will look to provide stability and experience in the coming weeks.
His goalkicking aside, Hodgson is among the game's best ball carriers and is the club's leading try-scorer with 11 while his demeanour is evidence of a growing confidence. But he readily admits the pitfalls and pain of the losses to Dragons and Roosters.
"I think we have learnt a lot from that, we got a bit carried away thinking we were at a level which we weren't," Hodgson said.
"The Dragons and Roosters certainly told us that in no uncertain terms, so we have prepared a lot better for the Brisbane game.
"They have been playing very well but they have few injuries and with Gordey suspended it's great opportunity for us."
Brisbane have been savagely hit with injury and suspension stripping them of their three most experienced players. Captain Darren Lockyer is out with a recurrence of rib cartilage damage, prop Shane Webcke has a calf injury while Tallis will miss the match suspended.
To counter that the Tigers have lost teenage sensation Benji Marshall and centre John Wilson for the season while prop John Skandalis's persistent knee injury has ruled him out.
Semi-retired Ben Ikin has answered the Broncos' call to partner Casey McGuire in the halves in Lockyer's absence.
McGuire is a former team-mate of Hodgson at Parramatta but confesses to be unsure of his attributes as a halfback. Tigers coach Tim Sheens thinks McGuire will benefit by assuming the playmaker role with Lockyer out while Ikin will be the main tactical kicker.
"Obviously Tim has done the homework but I'm not familiar with Casey at half. I know he is very strong physically," Hodgson said.
"Having Locky and Webcke out definitely benefits us but they still have about 10 Origin players in their side and it will be tough but we are probably getting them at a good time.
"We have got to hold on to the ball, I don't think any brilliant game plan will win it for us, we just have to compete throughout. Hopefully we can out-enthuse them."
Hodgson attributes a change in technique to his goalkicking success - he trails only the Bulldogs' Hazem El Masri as the season's leading scorer - with a 76 per cent success rate. He has been working with former Australia soccer striker Graham Arnold and is now coming around the ball from a wider angle.
"It took a while to get used to it. For the first 25-30 kicks I was only kicking at 55 per cent but I'm getting more power," Hodgson said.
Hodgson's strike-rate points to a huge advantage over the Broncos with Lockyer joining the club's all-time leading pointscorer Michael De Vere out for the season.
The Tigers completed negotiations with Telstra Stadium management yesterday to play five matches at the 83,500 capacity ground next season.
The home games will be split with Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium each hosting three and Christchurch's Jade Stadium one.
The Australian
