Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has leapt to the defence of the team’s culture following another nightmare week of headlines at the besieged club.
On Wednesday Maguire defended two of the club’s highest-paid players, Russell Packer and Josh Reynolds, who left the venue halfway through their team’s stunning comeback against Manly on Saturday.
Maguire said both players are feeling a a level of frustration after failing to make the team each week but denied their “bad judgement call” is a reflection on the club’s culture.
“That’s not what we’re about, what happened there at half-time,” he said.
“They made a judgement call, they put their hand up and it was wrong. Now it’s about moving forward.
“One thing I will say about the playing group and those two boys is they’ve bought into everything we’re doing.
“They’re obviously very keen to be out there on the field and that brings a form of frustration at times, but we all know what we need to do now and we just need to get behind the boys.”
Packer and Reynolds are contracted to the club until the end of next season, but have played just six and nine games this season respectively, sparking suggestions they are on the outer.
They have both been named on Maguire’s extended bench to play South Sydney on Thursday night.
And while he admits list management is difficult considering the pair represent $1.6 million in the reserves, Maguire said both will be at the club next year.
“Russ and Josh’s names keep bubbling up. They are committed to the club. They have a contract next year,” Maguire said.
“You always have list management going on inside an organisation on how we can continually improve as a group, but those two boys are here and that’s what everyone has got to understand.
“Those players, when they first signed here, came to help the Wests Tigers be a stronger organisation.
“And they’re here. And they are here next year. Our commitment to what we’re trying to achieve hasn’t changed since they signed.”
Maguire’s passionate defence of the club comes as the Tigers aim to keep their season alive against the Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium.
A win would maintain their faint finals hopes before facing high-flying Melbourne and Parramatta in the final two rounds.
Sitting ninth on the ladder, the Tigers are four points off Cronulla, who would need to lose this week for Maguire’s men to remain a mathematical chance.
**STATS THAT MATTER**
*South Sydney have won four of their last six matches against Wests Tigers, with the past two decided by eight points or fewer.
*Wests Tigers have scored a try from inside 20 from every 9.3 tackles in this zone, the second best ratio of any team (Sharks 8.1).
* Souths had their five-game winning streak snapped with their loss to the Storm last Friday, and dropped to seventh on the ladder following Newcastle’s win over Cronulla.
