Axed Tigers coach Jason Taylor has claimed he was made a "scapegoat" for the lingering contract negotiations involving the club's "big four", while telling skipper Aaron Woods and State of Origin No.1 James Tedesco it would be "really disrespectful" if they turned their backs on the club.

In his first interview since being unceremoniously dumped from the joint venture barely a fortnight after the season had started, a candid Taylor blamed the Tigers' ongoing retention saga, in part, for the club failing to make the finals by a point last year and, in turn, his hasty exit only months later.

Speaking on Fox Sports' League Life on Wednesday night, Taylor said Tim Simona's explosive betting and drug allegations on the morning of the Tigers' round two drubbing at the hands of the Panthers contributed to back-to-back heavy losses that triggered the board to sack the coach.

But Taylor, who said he was in "shock" five-eighth Mitchell Moses had agreed to terms with rivals Parramatta for 2018 and is seeking an immediate release, gave the Tigers' four highest profile players a back-hander for stalled negotiations that have undermined the joint-venture team's form in the past 12 months.