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MOMENTUM FROM COWBOYS WIN MUST CONTINUE AT LEICHHARDT
By Wayne Cousins
22/07/2011 2:54:49 PM
Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens wants to see the momentum gained from the win over the Cowboys to continue at a wet Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
The win over the Cowboys in Townsville was the team’s first in almost a month and moved Wests Tigers to 20 points on the Telstra Premiership ladder. Wests Tigers sit in seventh place ahead of their showdown against the Sydney Roosters.
Sheens was pleased with the improved effort in execution but remains wary of the 15th placed Roosters.
“They were very unlucky not to get the two points against the Rabbitohs last week. With (Anthony) Minichiello back, they have pretty much got a full complement of players. We are in for a big game and the conditions will play a part as well,'' Sheens said.
“Beating the Cowboys away last week, a top five side at the moment who had won their last seven home matches, was a good confident win for us.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times in the second half. There are still issues but it was a good improvement on what we have been delivering. We did execute a bit better and I was happy with it.”
The pre-game talk has been focused on the halves battle and in particular, the clash between Benji Marshall and Todd Carney, but Sheens is more focused on his own team’s preparation.
“Mitchell Pearce and Carney were talked about being the State of Origin halves at the early part of the season so their form can always click. They looked better last week,’’ Sheens said.
“Braith Anasta is playing well in the second-row again so it is very much like their grand final side from last season. Their centres are also gaining form so we are in for a tough game.
“It will be tough conditions although the field is in good shape despite being full of water. The surface itself is good. Given a small break in the weather, it should drain pretty well.
“What happens will depend on the conditions. You can never predict what a scoreline will be. We are not looking to win it by 30\. It makes me comfortable if we do but if we win it by 1, then I will be happy. We have just got to win the game.
“With 7 rounds to go, every game is important. You can see the log jam with the teams around us and we are not that far out of the five. It is a very, very important game. It doesn’t matter where they (Roosters) are on the ladder or the fact that we are playing Manly next week, we have got to win each game and concentrate on each game.
“We are focusing more on our own game. We know what to expect. The conditions will change things. I imagine there will be a lot more kicking, a lot more high ball. We will do the same. It is a matter of how you defuse that.
"I’m not worried about any individual. We are concentrating more on our performance. That’s what we did last week and I thought we got a good enough result.”
Gates now open at Leichhardt Oval at 5.15pm.
FOOTNOTE: The U20s match between Wests Tigers v Sydney Roostershas been shifted from Leichhardt Oval to Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
Kick-off is 1pm. Entry is $5.
By Wayne Cousins
22/07/2011 2:54:49 PM
Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens wants to see the momentum gained from the win over the Cowboys to continue at a wet Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
The win over the Cowboys in Townsville was the team’s first in almost a month and moved Wests Tigers to 20 points on the Telstra Premiership ladder. Wests Tigers sit in seventh place ahead of their showdown against the Sydney Roosters.
Sheens was pleased with the improved effort in execution but remains wary of the 15th placed Roosters.
“They were very unlucky not to get the two points against the Rabbitohs last week. With (Anthony) Minichiello back, they have pretty much got a full complement of players. We are in for a big game and the conditions will play a part as well,'' Sheens said.
“Beating the Cowboys away last week, a top five side at the moment who had won their last seven home matches, was a good confident win for us.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times in the second half. There are still issues but it was a good improvement on what we have been delivering. We did execute a bit better and I was happy with it.”
The pre-game talk has been focused on the halves battle and in particular, the clash between Benji Marshall and Todd Carney, but Sheens is more focused on his own team’s preparation.
“Mitchell Pearce and Carney were talked about being the State of Origin halves at the early part of the season so their form can always click. They looked better last week,’’ Sheens said.
“Braith Anasta is playing well in the second-row again so it is very much like their grand final side from last season. Their centres are also gaining form so we are in for a tough game.
“It will be tough conditions although the field is in good shape despite being full of water. The surface itself is good. Given a small break in the weather, it should drain pretty well.
“What happens will depend on the conditions. You can never predict what a scoreline will be. We are not looking to win it by 30\. It makes me comfortable if we do but if we win it by 1, then I will be happy. We have just got to win the game.
“With 7 rounds to go, every game is important. You can see the log jam with the teams around us and we are not that far out of the five. It is a very, very important game. It doesn’t matter where they (Roosters) are on the ladder or the fact that we are playing Manly next week, we have got to win each game and concentrate on each game.
“We are focusing more on our own game. We know what to expect. The conditions will change things. I imagine there will be a lot more kicking, a lot more high ball. We will do the same. It is a matter of how you defuse that.
"I’m not worried about any individual. We are concentrating more on our performance. That’s what we did last week and I thought we got a good enough result.”
Gates now open at Leichhardt Oval at 5.15pm.
FOOTNOTE: The U20s match between Wests Tigers v Sydney Roostershas been shifted from Leichhardt Oval to Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
Kick-off is 1pm. Entry is $5.
