Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has conceded that his side is battling a growing confidence crisis after they fell to their sixth straight defeat to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Outclassed from the outset after letting in a try inside the opening two minutes, the Tigers never recovered as the Bulldogs piled on the points in a commanding victory.
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The result marked another frustrating chapter in the club’s difficult season having all but extinguished any hopes of breaking the finals drought.
After showing promising signs to begin this year’s campaign, the Tigers will now miss the finals for a 15th consecutive season, with the dramatic collapse continuing against the Bulldogs, led by former teen sensation Lachlan Galvin.
“The start was pretty poor from us. We’re really struggling at the moment with confidence (and) playing our type of footy,” Marshall said.
“Then off the back of it we struggled to defend our sets so it’s tough at the moment for us but I thought we showed a bit of fight at the start of the second half.
“Then moments got away from us and then the scoreboard next minute is 32-nil, so yes it’s disappointing.”
Continuing to speak, Marshall admitted that confidence within the playing group had taken a significant hit due to their recent poor performances.
“It’s hard. I guess we’re all in that place at the moment where doubts, confidence (is down),” the Tigers coach continued.
“You can see the teams battling out their stages and sometimes we were fighting but in the wrong areas.
“A lot to learn and take away but at the moment we’re just not good enough.”
Meanwhile, Marshall and co-captain Api Koroisau refused to blame the defeat on the turbulent week the club endured after it was confirmed that Jarome Luai would depart at the end of the season to link up with the Eels.
“On a personal level, I didn’t even think about it once,” the club’s co-captain said.
“We had one of our best weeks of training so I don’t know if that plays a part.”
Marshall continued, “He went out and tried to do his job.”
“The scoreboard got the better of us, so we’re trying to catch our tail there at the back end but he was trying hard.”