Wests Tigers Head Coach Michael Maguire says the role the senior players in his squad are playing has pleased him most through the opening two rounds of the 2019 NRL season.
Heading in to 2019 with the oldest average player age out of all 16 teams, Wests Tigers' veterans — in particular Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall — have led the way to two wins to start the year, with Maguire highlighting how important the role of the 2005 Premiership Winners has been in getting buy-in across the board.
“I’ve known Robbie for a long time and I think everyone knows the type of player he is," Maguire said after the match. "He’s a pro but to his credit I think he put in a lot of work in the background and he understands that this is his last year.
"He wanted to be at his best for the season.
He’s in a really good headspace at the moment.
A Robbie Farah masterclass!
“With the likes of Benji and Robbie, it’s enjoyable to be around at training – they come in laughing and smiling and they’re showing that on the field," Maguire added.
"When they understand where they are in their career, they want to make sure every opportunity is a winner. Robbie made sure of that last week at Leichhardt and made sure of it today at Campbelltown. The home crowd is very special for him.
2019 Press Conference: Rd.2, Wests Tigers vs. Warriors
"Our completions were very high in the second half but I think that’s off the back off the smarts of our senior guys. I thought Luke Brooks did great tonight as well in the way that he controlled the game.
"It was nice to get Moses Mbye our captain back — he came in and there was a stage there in the first half he was that tired with his lungs but the boys looked after him and that’s what we’re trying to build here.”
