Fans turn on Jason Taylor after shocking performance at Leichhardt Oval
Fans in the Latchem Robinson stand turned to Taylor in the coach’s box and hurled abuse after he switched back-rower Kyle Lovett to left centre when Tim Simona came off with an ankle injury.
Lovett missed crucial tackles which allowed Penrith to score five tries down that edge, four of them going Panthers winger David Simmons.
Fans wanted Taylor to move Chris Lawrence back to centre, and they let their feelings be known. Eventually Lawrence was shifted to his former position, but the damage was done
“I don’t want to go into the details of it but it wasn’t just about Kyle being there. There was some breakdown in our systems defensively.
“Everyone will think it was the reason but there was more to it than that. I know you guys (media) will write that was where the game was won and lost but it wasn’t.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary admitted his side targeted the Tigers’ left side.
The Tigers have won just five of 15 games this year as their season slips away. Disgruntled Tigers fans started walking out on Sunday with 10 minutes remaining.
The Tigers led 12-10 at half-time before Penrith scored 25 unanswered points.
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