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Maguire smashes 'embarrassing' Tigers

Scott BaileyAAP
The Tigers' defence in the home loss to Gold Coast has been slammed by coach Michael Maguire.
Camera IconThe Tigers' defence in the home loss to Gold Coast has been slammed by coach Michael Maguire. Credit: AAP

A fed-up Michael Maguire has told Wests Tigers players their 36-28 loss to Gold Coast was embarrassing and their defence at time unacceptable after their seventh loss of the year.

For the umpteenth time in the last decade, the Tigers followed up a drought-breaking win with a horror show after they fell behind 18-0 inside 14 minutes.

Renowned for their inconsistency, the Tigers are still yet to win three games in a row in two-and-a-half years under Maguire.

"The results certainly show that (backing up wins is an issue). We need to find a way to fix it," Maguire said.

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"Because it was pretty embarrassing there today.

"I shouldn't have to tell players that we need to be like that or we need to be like this. You've got want to be like that.

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"They've got to want to get us out of this position we're in.

"We're up and down, we're talking about inconsistencies for a long period of time. If we own that, then they will change that."

Defence was again the Tigers' biggest problem.

They have now conceded three tries in three straight sets twice in the past three weeks, and let the Titans go 100 metres to score from a kick-off on Saturday.

Maguire labelled that as "unacceptable", with the club having leaked 29 points per game this year.

Under pressure to keep his job just a fortnight ago, the Tigers' issues are not unique to Maguire after going through four coaches in the seven years before him.

But he made no secrets of his frustrations at Campbelltown in arguably his most strongest statement this year.

"Everyone's jobs are accountable around what we do on the field and how we train," Maguire said.

"I've got some good young players coming through reserve grade that are performing well.

"So we've just got to have a look at the dynamics of what we're doing.

"Because we've got to do something to fix this consistency around what's been going on for quite some time."

The 47-year-old also pinpointed three Titans' efforts to push David Nofoaluma out and into a fence late in the game in cover defence to stop a late comeback.

"They wanted it at the moment more than what we did at times in the game," Maguire said.

"They've got to want it. Because that's how you get yourself through these times.

"Fans will be frustrated. I get that."

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