Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall described the performance against Newcastle on Sunday as ‘terrible’ and coach Michale Maguire did not completely disagree with him.
The Tigers are priced at 9/1 to finish in the top eight of the NRL in 2022 and play finals for the first time in 11 years, but they have not started well when losing both of their opening games.
Poor start
The Tigers did put up a good fight and showed encouraging signs when losing to Melbourne Storm in round one, but the same could not be said during the 26-4 loss against the Knights.
Marshall, who has now retired from playing and is working as a pundit, did not hold back after the game and says Maguire needs to make changes.
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"(It was) really terrible," Marshall told Fox League. "The completion rate was below 60 per cent. You can't win any game like that.
"From an effort point of view it wasn't there. It wasn't good enough for first-grade standard. I dare say (Michael Maguire) might be making changes for next weekend."
Maguire disappointed
Maguire did not totally disagree with his former playmaker either and was clearly disappointed with some aspects of the performance.
"There's probably areas of that," he said when told about Marshall’s comments. "Everyone has their opinion. We will have a look at how we played and what we'll do.
"There were areas in our effort that could have been better for sure. You have to turn up committed every time you turn up at a rugby league game."
