Tigers' Origin hopes look soft: Simmons
If any Wests Tigers players hope to play State of Origin this year, they must stop being overconfident, with assistant coach Royce Simmons warning "if you want a soft win, fight your sister".
After starting their NRL season with plenty of promise, winning four of their first five games, the Tigers are now facing their third consecutive loss when they host the Roosters at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Simmons said there was no doubt the side's early form had led them to play with overconfidence and had paid the price with back-to-back losses.
"They got too much confidence after those wins in a row and started to promote the ball too early in the game," he said.
"They didn't earn the right to move the ball.
"Jack Gibson used to say `if you want a soft win, fight your sister' and that's pretty right."
The Tigers have several players in serious consideration for NSW, including Robbie Farah, centre Chris Lawrence and prop Keith Galloway.
Also, 2008 City-Country representatives Chris Heighington and Bryce Gibbs are aiming to earn themselves a recall to the game often touted as the NSW Origin selection trial.
But former Panthers coach Simmons said any Origin selection will be determined by the Tigers refocusing and improving their form.
Galloway said he wasn't giving too much thought about a possible NSW call-up, saying he is focused on getting back to full fitness.
"I'm just trying to get back on the field and fit again, but once I'm fit and healthy and playing good footy, who knows what can happen," he said.
Heighington said he was hopeful he would be selected for the Country team and given a chance to prove his Origin claims.
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