Coaches Corner

Wests Tigers head of football Tim Sheens has described his side’s embarrassing 72-6 capitulation to the Sydney Roosters as a “punch in the face” - but angrily denied his club would surrender.

“What are you going to do? Lay down and cry? No way,” Sheens said. “We are going to keep going - that’s what you’ve got to do.

“I wouldn’t call it a hiccup but these punches in the face have to be taken sometimes.”

Sheens watched the Roosters post 12 tries to humiliate his Tigers last Saturday at the SCG.

Despite heavy criticism for the inept performance, the four-time premiership coach has a message to disgruntled Wests Tigers fans: “Stay the course.”

“The assumption is we have given up – sure we have,” Sheens said defiantly.

“We lost three players in the first 60 minutes – Luke Garner (HIA) went down in the second minute, Ken Maulmalo (groin) in the 30th minute and Alex (Seyfarth, shoulder) in the 60th minute. All are pretty much finished for the season. Jimmy (Tamou) was sent off.

“It was obviously disappointing for everyone in the club, the players and certainly the fans. But it’s about moving forward - we have to keep moving forward and we have two games to play.

“From my point of view, we are still headed in the right direction, the way I want it. You have to work your way out of these types of things and everyone who has been in sport understands that.

“We are changing, mate. All we can do is continue to stay the course. We are working our backsides off to do what we said we do – get through a tough year and develop our youngsters.

“People still talk about ‘Madge (sacked coach Michael Maguire). I did offer (Cameron) Ciraldo a five-year deal. It wasn’t me taking his spot. Now I’m an interim to prepare Benji (Marshall) for the (following) three years.

“We have used 32 players so far this year, we have had that many injuries. There are lots of things. There will be players moved from the club and we are still recruiting.”

Sheens outlined how and why his club was moving toward a sustained success some fans could feel is a long way off after last weekend.

“We have made plenty of changes to the coaching and high performance staff. We have moved into our Centre of Excellence which will improve our ability to improve. It will help our preparation for next year,” Sheens said.

“We have been working out of part-time facilities and training at part-time facilities. It has had some effect.


“The club has two of the best players coming in so there is a change straight away for next year with Api (Koroisau) and (Isaiah) Papali’i. Isaiah is committed to our club – he has said so, his agent has said so, I don’t want to hear (he isn’t going) again.

“Our under 20s are in the semi’s with one more game and hopefully they can finish top three. That is the head of our pathways. We are spending money in a big way to keep those kids and we will also give those kids opportunity.

“We are putting more money into it next year, the year after and the year after.”

Wests Tigers are now preparing for Sunday’s match against St George Illawarra at CommBank Stadium.

Halfback Luke Brooks is an outside chance to return from a calf injury, but is more likely back for round 25.

Have to stay the course saw what happened in 2012 to 2022 when we strayed off the course.
 
I can’t understand why sheens has to do so much background work that he can’t coach.

He has been head of football for about a year. Long enough to sack a coach and take his job. Surely he has had enough time to lay some foundations at the club.

Does this mean we need a new head of football as he won’t be able to coach and do that next year
 
It's true... This is a year to give some younger players a go when it doesn't really matter anyway. We have used the most players of any club this year at 32 and might even crack 35 the way we are going but the media don't care to report on that as putting us down sells.

Not sure where people were quoting Sheen as saying he has big things in play ???
Would we have moved into the CoE if Madge wasn’t sacked?
Would Api and Papali’i still be coming if Madge wasn’t sacked?
For crying out loud!!
I think we would like to hear what Sheens, Benji and Robbie are bringing, not what Has been previously organised. Regardless of how many times we hear the words “moving forward” it doesn’t support the evidence, because it feels like we’re moving backwards.
 
Wests Tigers head of football Tim Sheens has described his side’s embarrassing 72-6 capitulation to the Sydney Roosters as a “punch in the face” - but angrily denied his club would surrender.

“What are you going to do? Lay down and cry? No way,” Sheens said. “We are going to keep going - that’s what you’ve got to do.

“I wouldn’t call it a hiccup but these punches in the face have to be taken sometimes.”

Sheens watched the Roosters post 12 tries to humiliate his Tigers last Saturday at the SCG.

Despite heavy criticism for the inept performance, the four-time premiership coach has a message to disgruntled Wests Tigers fans: “Stay the course.”

“The assumption is we have given up – sure we have,” Sheens said defiantly.

“We lost three players in the first 60 minutes – Luke Garner (HIA) went down in the second minute, Ken Maulmalo (groin) in the 30th minute and Alex (Seyfarth, shoulder) in the 60th minute. All are pretty much finished for the season. Jimmy (Tamou) was sent off.

“It was obviously disappointing for everyone in the club, the players and certainly the fans. But it’s about moving forward - we have to keep moving forward and we have two games to play.

“From my point of view, we are still headed in the right direction, the way I want it. You have to work your way out of these types of things and everyone who has been in sport understands that.

“We are changing, mate. All we can do is continue to stay the course. We are working our backsides off to do what we said we do – get through a tough year and develop our youngsters.

“People still talk about ‘Madge (sacked coach Michael Maguire). I did offer (Cameron) Ciraldo a five-year deal. It wasn’t me taking his spot. Now I’m an interim to prepare Benji (Marshall) for the (following) three years.

“We have used 32 players so far this year, we have had that many injuries. There are lots of things. There will be players moved from the club and we are still recruiting.”

Sheens outlined how and why his club was moving toward a sustained success some fans could feel is a long way off after last weekend.

“We have made plenty of changes to the coaching and high performance staff. We have moved into our Centre of Excellence which will improve our ability to improve. It will help our preparation for next year,” Sheens said.

“We have been working out of part-time facilities and training at part-time facilities. It has had some effect.


“The club has two of the best players coming in so there is a change straight away for next year with Api (Koroisau) and (Isaiah) Papali’i. Isaiah is committed to our club – he has said so, his agent has said so, I don’t want to hear (he isn’t going) again.

“Our under 20s are in the semi’s with one more game and hopefully they can finish top three. That is the head of our pathways. We are spending money in a big way to keep those kids and we will also give those kids opportunity.

“We are putting more money into it next year, the year after and the year after.”

Wests Tigers are now preparing for Sunday’s match against St George Illawarra at CommBank Stadium.

Halfback Luke Brooks is an outside chance to return from a calf injury, but is more likely back for round 25.

."There will be players moved from the club" who?



“We have made plenty of changes to the coaching and high performance staff" who?
 
Would we have moved into the CoE if Madge wasn’t sacked?
Would Api and Papali’i still be coming if Madge wasn’t sacked?
For crying out loud!!
I think we would like to hear what Sheens, Benji and Robbie are bringing, not what Has been previously organised. Regardless of how many times we hear the words “moving forward” it doesn’t support the evidence, because it feels like we’re moving backwards.
Every game we have lost since Madge’s axing is a feather in Madge’s fedora, especially this recent rooster rodgering. His side of the difficulties during his tenure would be interesting. We know about a few of them.

Everybody laughed when Madges close mate Gus said up to 6 of our best players will walk out. I know I did. But he’s seems more right than wrong.

Maybe it could get worse. Maybe we could get a rooster type rodgering every week.

Who’s coming to the club Tim?

How is Benji going coaching training with his under 7s netball squad?

Any of the kids in tears yet?

You show ‘em Benji.
 
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Every game we have lost since Madge’s axing is a feather in Madge’s fedora, especially this recent rooster rodgering. His side of the difficulties during his tenure would be interesting. We know about a few of them.

Everybody laughed when Madges close mate Gus said up to 6 of our best players will walk out. I know I did. But he’s seems more right than wrong.

Maybe it could get worse. Maybe we could get a rooster type rodgering every week.

Who’s coming to the club Tim?

How is Benji going coaching training with his under 7s netball squad?

Any of the kids in tears yet?

You show ‘em Benji.
Madge was put under constant pressure from the board threatening to sack him well before Sheens arrived. Pascoe’s announcement of Sheens’ appointment was disgraceful. He made it clear that Madge was not wanted. I can’t believe how these guys can still have their jobs? Is it because nobody else wants the jobs?
 
Were those 3 in the changerooms after the game last night does anyone know? Because if they weren't it's yet another piss poor indictment on the club IMO.
They most certainly would of been in there if we had won.

Kimmorley has been sold down the river with his appointment, from the outside it looks like he has been left posted. No visible support, no support in the press from anyone in the club. Saturday night should come as no surprise, our club is so gutless from the top down. No professionalism at all.
Yea, Club should have backed Brett a bit.
No way we go down 74 - 6 or whatever it is if Robbie Farah is in the changerooms. Even the thought of a pissed off Angry Leb, let alone a bag of Muscles like Farah should have put some energy in them.
 
Haha nah all 7 points are on the mark. We’ll be right. Remember the floggings we copped in 2004 & what happened in 2005. Sheens has a plan & unfortunately we need short term pain for long term gain.
I think you would have to call this long term pain, realistically.
 
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