Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary admits his team has struggled under the expectations that followed a surprisingly strong start to the NRL season.
The bubble has burst on the Tigers after three-straight defeats, including arguably their worst performance of the year against the Warriors last week.
However, Cleary believes it’s more to do with their evolution than a bout of complacency.
“We did have a fair bit of success early in the season and what comes with that is external influences, distractions possibly,” Cleary said on Wednesday.
“People start talking guys up and that never happened at the start of the year but that’s all part of how it works.
“We had two very narrow losses and last week was the first game we were outplayed.”
Despite their alarming drop in form, the Tigers remain on track to improve on last year’s horror season when they didn’t register their fifth win until July.
While the Tigers will be aiming for their sixth when they host the Cowboys, Cleary denied their early-season success has changed their goals for the year.
“It may have been a surprise but we never went into the season with too many goals in terms of wins and ladder positions,” he said.
“We’re just trying to tick off what matters to us and we’re able to do that.
“To this point of the season, I’m reasonably happy with what’s transpired so far but there’s no doubt we need to play better than we have the last couple of weeks.”
The Tigers’ chances of ending their losing streak have been boosted by the return of co-captain Russell Packer, who has missed the past four matches with a knee injury.
The match also marks the return of 2005 premiership-winner Benji Marshall to Leichhardt Oval as a Tigers player since his dramatic exit from the club in 2014.
It is the club’s first game of the year at their spiritual home.
“He’s obviously had a lot of games here and been a big part of the history of the Wests Tigers,” Cleary said of Marshall.
“He’s definitely looking forward to the game, has a strong affiliation with the ground.
“It’s one of those grounds, it’s hard to describe.
” Our guys certainly like training here and to have a game here, the first one of the year, we’re looking forward to the occasion.”