Dropped Wests Tigers star Daine Laurie has come under fire for liking a video grab of Selwyn Cobbo scoring an intercept try in the Broncos’ thrashing of his team on social media.
The Daily Telegraph reported Laurie praised Cobbo’s 88-metre intercept try from a stray John Bateman pass in the Broncos’ 46-12 win over the Tigers, after it was posted on the NRL’s Instagram account, the same week he was dropped to reserve grade.
While not the crime of the century, Laurie’s actions were a bad look and poorly timed in the wake of his axing and the team’s on-field struggles.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Broncos make it five straight wins! | 02:18
The Tigers became the first team since 1969 to lose five straight games to start back-to-back seasons and they look favourites to win the wooden spoon for the second year in a row.
It’s not the first time Laurie has raised eyebrows for supporting the opposition after he was pictured wearing a Penrith jersey following their grand final win in 2021.
Laurie played three games for the Panthers in 2020 before his switch to the Tigers where he has scored 10 tries in 41 games, but he was dropped for Adam Doeuihi earlier this season and from the 17 altogether last week.
His latest gaffe was a tough pill to swallow for long-suffering Tigers fans who voiced their displeasure on social media.
One wrote: “It’s disgraceful, disloyal and shows his love of the club and teammates.”
MORE NRL NEWS
TALKING POINTS: Latrell’s Achilles heel emerges; Ciraldo’s shock role for Dogs hero
TEAM TIPS: Dogs’ forwards crisis; Eels’ timely boost; Dolphins’ fix for halves woes
WHISPERS: Storm star mulling code switch as Panthers, Sharks look to lock down guns
BUSH BASH: Former NRL bad boy filmed in wild bush footy brawl
And another: “Just another reminder he has never been committed to the club.”
One fan said: “It’s against his team. Not a huge deal but not good.”
Another posted: “He’ll never play for us again. Mid-season switch likely, surely.”
And this: “Little surprises me now about our club.”
Another Tigers supporter said: “It is a minor thing but also a hint that he’s not happy at the club.”
Mal Minga questioned whether the Tigers player understand or believe in the game plan Tim Sheens and his coaching staff have adopted in 2023.
“There could be this trust factor where they don’t quite believe what Tim (Sheens, coach) or the coaching staff are telling them, to be really bluntly honest. (Or) they don’t want to play to that plan,” Meninga said on Fox League.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Brisbane Broncos Press Conference | 07:24
“They seem to be playing as individuals, whether that is belief in what they are actually doing or belief in each other. They have to find this commonality and togetherness.
“They don’t come out and work together, they don’t control possession and get to a kick, they don’t want to grind games out.
“Every time they make an error or get a penalty against them, they’re not a resilient side. As a group, they have to come out of it and find a way collectively to start winning football games.
“’Sheensy’ is an excellent coach. I was coached by Tim Sheens for many years and he is a winner. He’s got Benji (Marshall) and Robbie Farah, they are winners as well. That little bit of winning has to rub off somehow.”
Curtis Scott filmed in bush footy brawl | 00:24
Legendary halfback Cooper Cronk believes it is obvious the Tigers are not on the same page or sure of their own individual roles.
“There are individuals playing in a team but they’re not on the same page,” Cronk said.
“They are not in sync. Instead of worrying about the play itself, maybe the nuances, maybe the in-between stuff, in terms of a shift in attack near the tryline, every player in that shift, that play, has to be in exactly the right place at the exactly the right time to take advantage of the defence.
“(But) I’m not going to say absolutely not. There would be one player up ahead of the ball, two players back. They have some issues and need to work it out otherwise this momentum of pressure is going to continue for a long time.”
