Tigers NRL critics have short memories: JT

Wests Tigers NRL coach Jason Taylor has hit back at his critics calling for his head, branding them short-sighted even in the wake of their 60-6 flogging at the hands of Canberra.

Some pundits are sharpening their knives after Taylor’s side were blown off the park by the Raiders in their sixth loss in a row.

In a stinging appraisal, Fox Sports commentator and Former Tigers playmaker Braith Anasta, who left the club when he retired at the end of 2014, said Taylor had lost the dressing room long ago.

However, Taylor said he believed his job was safe and pointed to what he described as a number of gutsy performances as reasons why criticism was unwarranted.

“I think it’s really clear to see from the performances that we’ve had so far this season have been full of character, full of great character,” Taylor said.

“It was only six days prior to the Canberra game that we took the Melbourne Storm into extra time and played a really strong game.

“On the back of one performance, I find that stuff disappointing, but that comes on the back of a 60-6 loss. You’ve got to expect it but you move on.”

The Tigers are desperate to get back in the winner’s circle against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night but their task has become harder with prop Tim Grant being ruled out with a niggling knee injury.

The loss of Grant compounds the absence of workaholic skipper Aaron Woods.

Taylor flatly denied his head was on the chopping block if the Tigers suffered another heavy defeat against the Rabbitohs and said he wasn’t affected by the barbs being fired his way.

“It’s part of the game, it’s a part of this job and it’s a part of a lot of jobs in the world today,” Taylor said.

“I’m fine because I know that what matters is our performance and how things have gone this week is based on the fact that we played really poorly and it wasn’t good enough and that’s what comes on the back of that sort of performance. It’s up to us.”

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