Thrashed Wests Tigers vow to bounce back

The Wests Tigers apologised to fans and forebears after a humiliating 50-10 NRL
heritage round thrashing by South Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
The Tigers' season began full of promise when they won four of their first five
games but that start is now in tatters after four straight losses, the latest by a
record margin to the Rabbitohs.
Tim Sheens' side have slipped out of the eight after an insipid performance against
Souths, who out-enthused the woeful Tigers, and captain Robbie Farah said he
couldn't recall a worse performance in his time at the club.
"As a playing group we're pretty embarrassed," Farah said.
"As captain I'd like to apologise on behalf of the players to the fans, to the
players in the past that have put this jersey on.
"It's pretty embarrassing but in saying that we'll stick together as a group and
we'll work hard.
"We'll bounce back, it's still early."
Sheens, who recently extended his contract at the club for another year, joined his
skipper in saying sorry to Tigers fans, who are still waiting for another finals
appearance after the fairytale 2005 premiership.
"We're all putting our hands up, me included - coaching staff, playing staff - we
owe the club better than that," Sheens said.
"There's been some distractions with me being away and some of the boys playing rep
footy too, there have been some issues with injury, but we're not here to offer any
excuses.
"The players and I have just had a long discussion about it and so this week can't
come quick enough."
A rare shocker from superstar five-eighth Benji Marshall compounded the Tigers' woes
but Sheens said little more could have been expected from the Kiwi captain.
"He's been a bit disappointed in his performances and therefore had tried to limit
issues in his game, no flick passes and things like that," the coach said.
"You look at our go-forward and stopping their go-forward.
"You can't ask your outside people to win you the game if you're not winning it in
the middle." Elsewhere, refereeing controversies dominated round 10, with coaches
demanding improvements from whistle-blowers.
Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith, who was on the end of some revenge from former
club Newcastle in a 34-18 loss on Saturday, said reverting to a dominant referee had
not worked.
Victorious Warriors coach Ivan Cleary, whose side snapped a three-match losing
streak in a 24-12 win over North Queensland, and his Cowboys opposite Neil Henry
questioned the performance of English referee Ashley Klein before Cronulla's Ricky
Stuart joined the chorus after his side was whacked 34-14 by Penrith on Sunday.
"I know I have been treated with disrespect and that is what is happening with the
interpretations of our game," Stuart said.
"We ain't getting the calls. Sometimes I just feel it is easier for the Sharks not
to get it because they are not meant to win.
"Ten thousand people can't be wrong, we can get a penalty on a 50-50."
St George Illawarra took sole ownership of the ladder lead once again with Friday's
19-6 win over Canterbury, with the Panthers moving to second on points differential.
Brisbane continued their recent resurgence with a 28-6 thrashing of third-placed
Gold Coast on Friday night, with centre Israel Folau starring.
Buoyed by their independent directors launching court action against the NRL's
penalties for rorting the salary cap, Melbourne downed Canberra 17-6 as Raiders fans
booed them and held money out towards the Storm players.