Tumultuous week for Tigers ends on a low with sixth straight loss
When is a good time to bleed a rookie quarterback?
The answer is, if you’re Wests Tigers, handing the number 7 jersey to a teenager after locking down Adam Doueihi, causing the regular playmaker to drop out, with five-eighths’ heads appearing elsewhere, the team suffering a major slump in form and their opponents having numbers.
Welcome to the first class, Javon Andrews.
After a week of turmoil in Tiger Town, like most other weeks, long-suffering fans were looking for a reason to get out of bed Saturday morning. It would be unfair to expect 19-year-old Andrews, who was included in the game due to numerous absences, to come in good form.
Few would have thought Doueihi would be one of them, especially after earning one of those rare wins in the judiciary on Tuesday night. But faced with the possibility of wearing the number 13 jersey or not at all, Doueihi chose the latter.
It is unclear where the Lebanon international watched or if he witnessed Saturday’s 56-10 embarrassment. It wasn’t at GIO Stadium and we’ll never know what kind of difference it would have made. But based on what his teammates were doing, this was probably negligible.
After all the turmoil off the field, attention turned to what the Tigers would produce on the field. There was a glimmer of hope when the great backrower Ethan Roberts, who once aspired to be a jockey, crashed out early to give the visitors the lead. But it’s hope that kills you.
This is the best thing for the Tigers. Jarome Luai made three lone passes that missed their target in the first half, by which time his team had leaked five tries. By this stage, some hardy Tiger souls traveling on the Federal Highway had left early for the long journey home.
They were no longer left watching from a frustrated and fragmented playing group. Are they on Team Benji? Team Jarome? Team Doueihi? They may be wearing the same colors, but they don’t look like they’re playing for the same team.
It was difficult for a novice to make his mark in this environment. Andrews kicked reasonably well and his large frame, already 190cm and 98kg, was too busy tackling to have the opportunity to break any balls. I hope he doesn’t get hurt from what he just went through.
The Raiders deserve more than a footnote in the story. Opposing quarterback Ethan Sanders easily had his best play, which included a solo try. It was one of several superb long-range efforts, highlighted by full-back Kaeo Weekes, who completed another coast-to-coast effort for the second game in a row.
The Tigers took the field early. For their part, despite having the result in their hands before half-time, the Raiders couldn’t make it happen. Playing against his former team, Daine Laurie scored a hat-trick in the second half.
Things could get worse before they get better for the Tigers. Patrick Herbert was reported for smashing his opponent’s head into the ground before apparently butting his own head.
The JV team started the day as a mathematical possibility of making the play-offs, but after their sixth straight defeat, there isn’t an abacus in the world to give them a chance. Next up Luai against one of their future employers, Parramatta. If you thought the halves debate was a hot topic last week, get ready for what’s to come.
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