KingOvKingz09
New member
WESTS Tigers coach Tim Sheens is used to the annual cries from NRL fans to “axe the coach”.
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Last season he even had fans throw their jerseys at him following the Tigers’ capitulation to the Rabbitohs.
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But generally when he comes under such fire he’s already one step ahead of the astute sideline coaches and referees, and dealing with whatever the issue is.
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Last year’s calls largely centred on Sheen’s ill-fated decision to move Benji Marshall from his familiar five-eighth role to halfback.
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Marshall was a proverbial duck out of water, fans raged and Sheens quickly back-tracked. This season he’s given himself multiple options in the event of an injury in that key position, to avoid the situation of last season. “We’ve still got a few issues with injuries but I don’t want to focus on them,” he said.
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“Everything is coming together well; we did a lot better in our last trial (v Roosters, 19-8 win) than our game in Campbelltown (v Eels, 30-10 loss). The guys really looked at it as a rehearsal (for the season) and played accordingly.”
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Sheens said there was still room for improvement in the 2011 squad. “Our young forwards, particularly Simon Dwyer, Aaron Woods and Andrew Fifita, are still finding their feet,” he said.
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“(Gareth) Ellis and (Beau) Ryan are back on track with their injuries and (Bulldogs recruit Matt) Utai is playing well enough to get himself into the squad.”
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Last season he even had fans throw their jerseys at him following the Tigers’ capitulation to the Rabbitohs.
>
But generally when he comes under such fire he’s already one step ahead of the astute sideline coaches and referees, and dealing with whatever the issue is.
>
Last year’s calls largely centred on Sheen’s ill-fated decision to move Benji Marshall from his familiar five-eighth role to halfback.
>
Marshall was a proverbial duck out of water, fans raged and Sheens quickly back-tracked. This season he’s given himself multiple options in the event of an injury in that key position, to avoid the situation of last season. “We’ve still got a few issues with injuries but I don’t want to focus on them,” he said.
>
“Everything is coming together well; we did a lot better in our last trial (v Roosters, 19-8 win) than our game in Campbelltown (v Eels, 30-10 loss). The guys really looked at it as a rehearsal (for the season) and played accordingly.”
>
Sheens said there was still room for improvement in the 2011 squad. “Our young forwards, particularly Simon Dwyer, Aaron Woods and Andrew Fifita, are still finding their feet,” he said.
>
“(Gareth) Ellis and (Beau) Ryan are back on track with their injuries and (Bulldogs recruit Matt) Utai is playing well enough to get himself into the squad.”
