Benji Marshall fires back in Tim Sheens feud
A WAR of words has erupted between Benji Marshall and former coach Tim Sheens over Sheens' sacking from the Tigers.
Sheens last week accused Marshall of not offering him support in the lead up to his sacking and suggested the star playmaker contributed to his downfall as Tigers’ coach last September.
Marshall hit back today, saying the club board was wholly responsible for Sheens’ dismissal.
"That (Sheens' sacking) had nothing to do with me," Marshall said.
"Obviously there are a lot of rumours going around, but at the end of the day, I know the truth.
"I don’t influence what the board does. They make their own decision.
"I’ll stand by what I’ve done. I’ve done nothing wrong.
"It’s just disappointing because the relationship we did have, he’s had to come out and say that."
The feud began in September last year – five days before Sheens' sacking – following comments made by Marshall on The Footy Show.
"His coaching ability no doubt is up there with the best in the world. And you don't replace a coach - unless there's someone better," Marshall said.
"If they find someone better, well maybe it might be time for a change."
The Kangaroos coach, who spent 10 years in charge of the Tigers, said he felt let down by Marshall.
"I'd have to say I was a bit disappointed. I expected a little bit better," Sheens said last week on NRL 360.
"But in saying that, if that's the way the club wanted to go, it's the way they wanted to go.
"There was a lot of emotion about that week with Benj, with Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington leaving on the Monday - I think that (Marshall's comments) was on the Thursday.
"But again, I expected a little bit better."
Asked whether a show of public support from senior players like Marshall and skipper Robbie Farah could have saved his job, Sheens responded: "Put it this way: players get rid of coaches".
"It's generally senior players too," he added.
"The 19-year-old; if you tell him it's black and it's white, he'll still believe it's black. The older player who starts to struggle with their form, and for whatever reason isn't happy - or his form isn't happy - looks externally rather than internally. That causes generally the demise of coaches."
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A bit of a rehash of an older story…
A WAR of words has erupted between Benji Marshall and former coach Tim Sheens over Sheens' sacking from the Tigers.
Sheens last week accused Marshall of not offering him support in the lead up to his sacking and suggested the star playmaker contributed to his downfall as Tigers’ coach last September.
Marshall hit back today, saying the club board was wholly responsible for Sheens’ dismissal.
"That (Sheens' sacking) had nothing to do with me," Marshall said.
"Obviously there are a lot of rumours going around, but at the end of the day, I know the truth.
"I don’t influence what the board does. They make their own decision.
"I’ll stand by what I’ve done. I’ve done nothing wrong.
"It’s just disappointing because the relationship we did have, he’s had to come out and say that."
The feud began in September last year – five days before Sheens' sacking – following comments made by Marshall on The Footy Show.
"His coaching ability no doubt is up there with the best in the world. And you don't replace a coach - unless there's someone better," Marshall said.
"If they find someone better, well maybe it might be time for a change."
The Kangaroos coach, who spent 10 years in charge of the Tigers, said he felt let down by Marshall.
"I'd have to say I was a bit disappointed. I expected a little bit better," Sheens said last week on NRL 360.
"But in saying that, if that's the way the club wanted to go, it's the way they wanted to go.
"There was a lot of emotion about that week with Benj, with Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington leaving on the Monday - I think that (Marshall's comments) was on the Thursday.
"But again, I expected a little bit better."
Asked whether a show of public support from senior players like Marshall and skipper Robbie Farah could have saved his job, Sheens responded: "Put it this way: players get rid of coaches".
"It's generally senior players too," he added.
"The 19-year-old; if you tell him it's black and it's white, he'll still believe it's black. The older player who starts to struggle with their form, and for whatever reason isn't happy - or his form isn't happy - looks externally rather than internally. That causes generally the demise of coaches."
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A bit of a rehash of an older story…
