Tigers coach Michael Maguire spine shuffle ‘masterclass’ exposes Knights

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire’s stunning selection call has paid off massively with his side romping to a crushing 36-18 win over the Newcastle Knights.

The Tigers have been perennial also rans for the past nine seasons and looked to be headed that way again.

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But just weeks after his job was reportedly on the line, Maguire pulled a selection shock earlier in the week naming Moses Mbye at five-eighth, Jacob Liddle at hooker and the team’s best player so far this season, Adam Doueihi, in the centres.

Maguire said he was “just looking for a bit of a change in what we are doing”.

Well, he got that, with the Tigers punishing a Kalyn-Ponga-less Knights.

Ponga was withdrawn late, with Tex Hoy taking his position.

But the Tigers got off to the flyer, with Mbye instrumental in the first try for Luke Brooks, hitting Tommy Talau with a short pass to put him through a gap, before the halfback came up in support to score the opener.

Doueihi then set up the second, kicking behind the Knights as two Newcastle players took each other out and left the ball for James Tamou to score the easiest of tries.

“It’s a fast start, it’s been electric, the Tigers are on fire,” Braith Anasta said. “It’s been a masterstroke already. Maguire has come up with some big calls and this is the advantage of having a half in the centres. He comes up with a kick when they need it, there’s nothing doing.”

The Tigers were on fire against the Knights.Source:Getty Images

The next one came when Brooks kicked for Doueihi, who jumped, knocking it down for Mbye, who passed for David Nofoaluma to score in the corner.

This was 16 minutes in with the score already 18-0.

While the Knights pegged one back, the Tigers went to the break at 24-4, with the game essentially over.

While they had their own blunders, the Tigers ran out to 36-8 by the 53rd minute, with the Knights hitting back with two late tries that were no more than consolation scores.

Anasta added at the end of the game that: “The big challenge for the Tigers is doing this every week.

“There have been signs of this. This has been by far their best performance. It’s something you can lay a foundation to build on. Maguire would love to bank this and take it into next week’s performances and build to get better.”

He also praised Doueihi after he ran 138m in 13 runs.

“Adam Doueihi, it’s a great response from him,” Anasta said.

“I know personally that Adam prefers to play five-eighth, I had a conversation with him at the back end of last season when he was at fullback and he said to me ‘I want to play five-eighth’.

“He’s had the opportunity to do so and I think he’s done a great job and got better with every performance. To be told ‘you’ve got to go back to the centres’… it would have been a tough week for him.

“But he’s put his ego aside and he’s been fantastic, it’s been a great performance from Adam.”

You can’t keep Adam Doueihi down.Source:Getty Images

But while the Tigers looked much better than previous weeks, for the Knights, there wasn’t much to write home about.

Adam O'Brien is going to talk about @NRLKnights injuries but that's no excuse for dropping the ball cold

Mann, Frizell, and Watson all guilty and they are meant to be senior players

This is atrocious #NRLTigersKnights

Sorry, who are these Tigers though? I don’t know them? #NRLTigersKnights

The @WestsTigers playing with a lot of heart and determination tonight. Talent is there to be top 8 imo. Just need the consistency and will. #nrltigersknights#NRL

Really enjoyed the three Knights players just watching that ball drop and allowing the Tigers to score. Well done. #NRLTigersKnights

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