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Cleary keen to change Tigers' NRL stripes

Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has detected a noticeable pattern in his team's recent string of NRL losses, including the latest defeat to North Queensland.

Michael Morgan chases a loose ball.
Ivan Cleary's Wests Tigers let in three tries in 10 minutes to lose 22-14 to North Queensland. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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These are the Wests Tigers stripes Ivan Cleary wants to change.

Cleary's NRL side gave up three tries in 10 minutes against North Queensland on Friday to blow an eight-point second-half lead before going down 22-14.

It was their fourth loss in a row that they were overrun late in the match.

"I don't know how many times, but it's got to be close to half-a-dozen I reckon now where those sort of things happened," Cleary said.

"The good news is it's a pattern. You can work away at a pattern.

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"Part of it is guys still learning to play for 80 minutes and the side we had tonight, there's a few in there that are still learning that the hard way."

Cleary was once again proud of their opening 60 minutes but rued a number of crucial moments that opened the door for the Cowboys to come back.

The biggest came when centre Michael Chee-Kam shoulder-charged Michael Morgan on a fifth-tackle kick that resulted in three straight tries.

"It was just after we'd scored and we hardly saw the ball after that," Cleary said.

"We didn't handle the big moments in the last 20, gave them the opportunity and they were good enough to take it.

"It's disappointing in that sense, but it was a little bit of a pattern as well. It's where we are in many respects. I thought the first 60 minutes was really good, it was very competitive.

"It's what we want. But we just couldn't finish the job."

Skipper Aaron Woods also bemoaned their management of the final 20 minutes in what was his second-last match in Tigers colours.

He said the reality of next Sunday's clash against the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval being his final appearance for the club had yet to sink in.

"It's the place I grew up and all that, but life throws curveballs at you and you move on," he said.


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