Panthers legend Greg Alexander has slammed the angle of Wests Tigers gamers who had been handed official warnings by the membership for failing to fulfill low season health requirements, whereas James Graham described their actions as “disrespectful”.
There are stories that 5 gamers copped warnings from the membership for failing to stick to requirements that they agreed to on the finish of final season, with two of these gamers set to entrance the board to elucidate their actions.
The Tigers’ robust strategy is totally warranted given the membership has received three consecutive wood spoons, with Benji Marshall demanding much more from his gamers in 2025.
“If that’s true, what does that say in regards to the angle about these Tigers?” Alexander requested on SEN1170.
“That may be a huge drawback for the facet that ran final final yr.
“What participant today turns again as much as coaching after a pair months off unfit and to the purpose the place they’re requested to entrance the board?
“It’s not the ’80s. How disrespectful to their teammates to show up within the state they’re in. They’re snubbing their nostril to 1000’s of followers.”
The Tigers will welcome a number of skilled gamers within the coming weeks, with former Panther Jarome Luai one of many greatest signings within the membership’s historical past.
However Alexander is nervous that this newest situation might result in extra issues for the Tigers subsequent yr.
“A few new gamers aren’t going to unravel the issues the Tigers had final yr,” he stated.
“A part of the reply of being superb at this recreation is being as match and powerful as you could be. The place is the drive?
“If I’m a Tigers fan waking as much as this story, I’m gutted.”
Injured Roosters hooker Brandon Smith applauded the robust stance taken by the membership and went onerous on the gamers for letting down their coach and teammates.
“If I’m Benji Marshall, I discover it disrespectful on the gamers’ behalf,” Smith stated on The Bye Spherical podcast with James Graham.
“Three wood spoons in a row, a brand new coach and also you’re going to come back again out of situation. It begs the query, do you actually wish to play this recreation and what do you wish to play for?
“Do you wish to play it as a result of it seems cool and also you wish to make cash, or do you wish to play it as a result of this implies one thing to you and also you wish to win championships and also you wish to do nice issues on this recreation?”
Graham was equally disillusioned with the gamers who knew what was anticipated of them over the low season.
“It’s disrespectful,” he stated.
“It’s a slap within the face to the entire organisation to say we agreed on this and also you failed on one thing, on a variable, that’s completely and completely in your management.
“It’s simply going to be attention-grabbing to see the fallout from this and see the place it goes.”
