Is it true Bellamy considered joining the Tigers?

[upthetigers]

And the reason he didn't take up the job was because his wife didn't want to live in Sydney. Not sure where I heard this or if there is any truth to it.

 

[Adam Doobie]

Yes it is true. He talked a bit about it on Brett Finch's podcast (it's on YouTube). There was another club he turned down, I forget who. Melbourne was appealing to him because it was a one-team town, and he also thought he shouldn't knock back the next head coach offer he gets.

 

[carltonleach]

How long ago was this?

 

[hobbo1]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think 🤔

 

[hank37w]

it was in 2003.

 

[upthetigers]

Yes it is true. He talked a bit about it on Brett Finch's podcast (it's on YouTube). There was another club he turned down, I forget who. Melbourne was appealing to him because it was a one-team town, and he also thought he shouldn't knock back the next head coach offer he gets.

Thanks for confirming that. What could have been. I think it was you who put me onto the Bloke In A Bar podcast you shared it in a post. I've been listening to a few of their podcasts they're good.

 

[carltonleach]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think ?

True far out would've been interesting to see how bellyache did or better yet what he did with the mighty tigers back then

 

[hobbo1]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think ?

True far out would've been interesting to see how bellyache did or better yet what he did with the mighty tigers back then

We would’ve had 2 stripped premierships and Gallop would’ve stripped our NRL license from us lol ?

 

[carltonleach]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think ?

True far out would've been interesting to see how bellyache did or better yet what he did with the mighty tigers back then

We would’ve had 2 stripped premierships and Gallop would’ve stripped our NRL license from us lol ?

Haha Haha didnt think about that aha!! Deadset classic ??

 

[hank37w]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think ?

True far out would've been interesting to see how bellyache did or better yet what he did with the mighty tigers back then

Never the less you should never regret the fact that we got Tim Sheens for the 2003 season.

At the time Sheens was an established first grade coach and Bellyache was only an assistant, so it was a very good signing after the Terry Lamb fiasco.

There should always be fond memories of Tim's time here particularly the earlier years and the success of 2005.

Personally, I always thought he came up with some really good game plans each week to suit our opponents and it was only towards the end that he lost the plot completely with his pure Sheenius team selections.

Will always have fond memories of Tim Sheen and it was a shame we parted company with him on less than favorable terms.

 

[PJ_]

How long ago was this?

When we signed Sheens ..I think ?

True far out would've been interesting to see how bellyache did or better yet what he did with the mighty tigers back then

We would’ve had 2 stripped premierships and Gallop would’ve stripped our NRL license from us lol ?

?

 

[Adam Doobie]

Personally, I always thought he came up with some really good game plans each week to suit our opponents and it was only towards the end that he lost the plot completely with his pure Sheenius team selections.

Will always have fond memories of Tim Sheen and it was a shame we parted company with him on less than favorable terms.

Jack Gibson was right - winning starts in the front office. Sheens never should have been signed to that mega contract. I don't know how it should have been handled, but good admin would have got it done right.

We finally seem to have our front office sorted and success looks like it's on the way.

 

[hank37w]

Wonder how things would have been if Sheens had of gone to Penrith when the offer was on.

Could have been a win win for both parties.

 

[jirskyr]

Pretty different rosters Wests Tigers 2002 and Storm 2002. Storm had missed the finals 2001-02 under Chris Anderson and Mark Murray, but before that made the finals 3 times with 1 premiership.

Bellyache jags Cameron Smith and Billy Slater in his first season - almost certainly not scouted by him, so gifted to him, end up being two of the better players in the last 20 years. Cooper Cronk starts 2004. Inglis 2005. Folau 2007. Not sure how many of those Bellamy was personally involved in signing, but some all-time greats.

Not to say Bellamy isn't a terrific coach, no doubting it, but does he get to this level without those players? Wayne Bennett had a record as good as Bellamy for a good long while sitting on top of the Broncos machine, and has proven himself still a very good coach, but not nearly as successful when the quality of cattle dips.

 

[tig_prmz]

Pretty different rosters Wests Tigers 2002 and Storm 2002. Storm had missed the finals 2001-02 under Chris Anderson and Mark Murray, but before that made the finals 3 times with 1 premiership.

Bellyache jags Cameron Smith and Billy Slater in his first season - almost certainly not scouted by him, so gifted to him, end up being two of the better players in the last 20 years. Cooper Cronk starts 2004. Inglis 2005. Folau 2007. Not sure how many of those Bellamy was personally involved in signing, but some all-time greats.

Not to say Bellamy isn't a terrific coach, no doubting it, but does he get to this level without those players? Wayne Bennett had a record as good as Bellamy for a good long while sitting on top of the Broncos machine, and has proven himself still a very good coach, but not nearly as successful when the quality of cattle dips.

They weren't future immortals Cronk, Slater, Smith, GI when he got them though.

Letting go of all that, listen to any current or ex Melb player (Brandon Smith on Kemp's podcast for eg, Finch, Hoffman, Welch etc etc) and you will hear about the systems they have in place. They don't just have the best in the NRL but the structures are something a big corporation would be proud of.

I 100% agree though that it has been formed on the basis of "successful senior players"- that were only there due to a systemic salary cap rort.

They've missed the top 4 maybe 5x in 19 years. Look at how many coaches have come out of their system. Leaders at clubs like Proctor, Harris, Maloney etc have come from that organisation.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

In hindsight it would have been nice to have Bellamy with his track record in Melbourne. There would have been no guarantees that his success would have been replicated in Sydney.

The one bonus Melbourne has is that they are virtually non existent in the AFL saturated landscape and that as a successful one team town there's no real incentive excepting being offered stupid overs to move on.

If Bellamy established the same success at Wests as he did Melbourne, we would have probably haemorrhaged more players as there's 8 other clubs in farting distance where you wouldn't have to up your life to re-establish yourself. It would have been easier to pinch Billy, Cam or Cooper if they were here and just starting to make a name.

 

[tig_prmz]

In hindsight it would have been nice to have Bellamy with his track record in Melbourne. There would have been no guarantees that his success would have been replicated in Sydney.

The one bonus Melbourne has is that they are virtually non existent in the AFL saturated landscape and that as a successful one team town there's no real incentive excepting being offered stupid overs to move on.

If Bellamy established the same success at Wests as he did Melbourne, we would have probably haemorrhaged more players as there's 8 other clubs in farting distance where you wouldn't have to up your life to re-establish yourself. It would have been easier to pinch Billy, Cam or Cooper if they were here and just starting to make a name.

I agree and disagree. I think the location may have helped attract initially but to be successful for this long, you must have some of the best man management, leadership and organisational skills (such as scouting, junior pathways etc). The ** will always be that it was formed on the basis of a big cheat but the way they have sustained still and are likely to sutain is a huge testmanet to his work.