Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter said he was "entitled to be disappointed" with this side's last-play options after their season-opening 44-24 thrashing at the hands of St George Illawarra on Sunday.
The Tigers posted an early 12-0 lead but for the final 60 minutes of the match were guilty of not mounting any pressure on the Dragons defence, gifting their rivals easy possession and losing structure in both attack and defence.
"It was a disappointing second half. We were right in the game and some of our last play options were poor. And they rolled us down the field. [It was a] disappointing performance in the second half," he said.
"I thought we were looking alright up until halftime. We had a couple of lapses, I could see that. But I thought we were looking alright. In the second half, when the other rolled down the field after some poor last plays... and to hand the ball over on play one – you're entitled to be disappointed in that."
Potter said he spoke to his halves combination of rookie Luke Brooks and veteran Braith Anasta immediately after the game.
"I spoke to the halves about our last play options. They just weren't good enough. We'll do some video through the week, so I spoke to both Braith and Brooksy," he said.
Skipper Robbie Farah said final-play options have become even more crucial this year after the introduction of the seven-tackle restart that results from a kick that rolls dead.
"[It] definitely gives you more opportunities and it definitely burns the defence up," he said. "When you've got to first of all get in transition, get back on side quickly, and then make seven in a row, it does become difficult.
"And as I said, we probably came up with a few too many of those today. It's so crucial you get them right and we didn't do that."
