Rugby league fable Billy Slater has stopped abbreviated of calling for Luke Brooks to beryllium axed by Wests Tigers, but says changes are desperately needed for the perennial NRL battlers.
The Concord nine - which has not featured successful finals since 2011 - is winless done 3 rounds this season, contempt revamping the coaching unit and recruiting typical players Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papali'i.
On Sunday astatine Belmore, the Tigers were being trounced 20-6 by Canterbury, earlier rallying to score 3 tries successful 4 minutes and endanger an almighty comeback. Ultimately they fell short.
READ MORE: Disaster for Piastri arsenic McLaren hits stone bottom
READ MORE: 'Dumb' habits plaguing Rabbitohs' rubric charge
READ MORE: Twist successful Ryan Matterson expansive last good furore
Aside from that spurt of vigor the Tigers erstwhile again looked listless successful attack. Head manager Tim Sheens and his assistants - namely Benji Marshall, who galore hoped would reinvigorate the broadside - are good and genuinely successful the gun.
"The champion portion of the Tigers was erstwhile (back-up playmaker) Brandon Wakeham came connected the field, and helium really sparked a spot of footy successful them," Slater told Wide World of Sports' The Billy Slater Podcast.
"That really ignited Luke Brooks, Brooks had a bully past 10 minutes.
"But you can't conscionable play good erstwhile determination is thing astatine stake, the crippled is gone and you're throwing the shot astir and hoping for the best.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 unrecorded and escaped on 9Now
"I don't cognize wherever the Tigers spell from here. Tim Sheens has got his enactment chopped retired for him.
"It's truly going to trial his coaching this year, due to the fact that they are good beneath par successful my view."
The Tigers person been also-rans for 12 years now. Brooks has been the team's halfback for a decade, and has ne'er played an NRL finals game.
As comes with the territory, helium has been a punching container for frustrated fans, not helped by his $1.1 cardinal wage this year.
And portion Slater says Wakeham was the 1 who sparked immoderate beingness successful the squad connected Sunday, helium refused to blasted Brooks, 28, for the club's woes.
"There is simply a bigger problem," Slater said.
NRL Highlights: Bulldogs v Tigers - Round 3
"I've watched them unrecorded the past 2 weeks. They are truly disappointing, I'm truly disappointed successful the Tigers astatine the moment.
"Their defence is not bully enough, determination is not capable vigor oregon effort successful their antiaircraft line. Some of those long-range tries (from the Bulldogs)... determination were radical conscionable lasting astir watching.
"That's beauteous poor. That's conscionable an effort and a choice.
"Then erstwhile they've got the footy determination is nary cohesion."
It doesn't get overmuch easier for the Tigers, who question to Melbourne to instrumentality connected the Storm connected Friday.
For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!