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Shades of Hanley as countryman steps up
June 5, 2010
WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens didn't want to compare him with Balmain's most famous import, Ellery Hanley, but he was prepared to say that English forward Gareth Ellis was the best bargain buy the Tigers had made in his time as coach.
''In my time here, dollar-for-dollar, he's been the best buy this club has had,'' Sheens said.
In wet conditions that reminded him of his home in Yorkshire, Ellis was a key factor in the Tigers' grinding win over the Bulldogs last night in what was a man-of-the-match performance.
The 29-year-old worked hard all night and made some barnstorming runs.
Sheens said of Ellis: ''He leaves nothing in the tank. He's scary. He knocks you down and runs hard. I'd have to say in my time at the club he's been the best import the club has purchased. Not so much because of his flashy play - and he can do some very good things - it's just that week-in, week-out consistent performance that he's given us. He regularly plays 80 minutes and I think he's only missed one or two games for us in two years.''
Sheens said Ellis was ''value for money'' and if you asked the other Tigers who they loved playing with ''they'll tell you it's him''.
After some procrastination, the Tigers are letting Ellis fly out of Sydney today so he can go into camp on Monday with the England team for a game against France next Saturday at a new stadium in Leigh, in England's north.
Sheens predicted Ellis would ''murder'' his French opponents. ''He'll kill them. He's too strong for them. A couple of people said 'why are we letting him go just for that?', but it's a rep game and we let blokes go and play City v Country, we let blokes go and play for NSW. He wants to play a Test and I would never take that off him. It brings them back better players. For him and [the Rabbitohs' Sam Burgess] to play together in that [English] side, the French won't know what hit them.''
Ellis said he was looking forward to turning out for England for the first time since last year's Four Nations tournament and described France as a ''tough outfit''.
He said the last time he had played in wet conditions in Australia he was man-of-the-match ''which is about right for an English player playing over here. When I see it's raining it's not something I look forward to, but it must suit me. It was good to get on the front foot and run off Robbie Farah. He creates a bit of space and then it's up to you to do your best. I really enjoyed playing out there tonight.''
Hanley helped the Tigers to a grand final in 1988\. Ellis looks capable of doing the same in 2010.
June 5, 2010
WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens didn't want to compare him with Balmain's most famous import, Ellery Hanley, but he was prepared to say that English forward Gareth Ellis was the best bargain buy the Tigers had made in his time as coach.
''In my time here, dollar-for-dollar, he's been the best buy this club has had,'' Sheens said.
In wet conditions that reminded him of his home in Yorkshire, Ellis was a key factor in the Tigers' grinding win over the Bulldogs last night in what was a man-of-the-match performance.
The 29-year-old worked hard all night and made some barnstorming runs.
Sheens said of Ellis: ''He leaves nothing in the tank. He's scary. He knocks you down and runs hard. I'd have to say in my time at the club he's been the best import the club has purchased. Not so much because of his flashy play - and he can do some very good things - it's just that week-in, week-out consistent performance that he's given us. He regularly plays 80 minutes and I think he's only missed one or two games for us in two years.''
Sheens said Ellis was ''value for money'' and if you asked the other Tigers who they loved playing with ''they'll tell you it's him''.
After some procrastination, the Tigers are letting Ellis fly out of Sydney today so he can go into camp on Monday with the England team for a game against France next Saturday at a new stadium in Leigh, in England's north.
Sheens predicted Ellis would ''murder'' his French opponents. ''He'll kill them. He's too strong for them. A couple of people said 'why are we letting him go just for that?', but it's a rep game and we let blokes go and play City v Country, we let blokes go and play for NSW. He wants to play a Test and I would never take that off him. It brings them back better players. For him and [the Rabbitohs' Sam Burgess] to play together in that [English] side, the French won't know what hit them.''
Ellis said he was looking forward to turning out for England for the first time since last year's Four Nations tournament and described France as a ''tough outfit''.
He said the last time he had played in wet conditions in Australia he was man-of-the-match ''which is about right for an English player playing over here. When I see it's raining it's not something I look forward to, but it must suit me. It was good to get on the front foot and run off Robbie Farah. He creates a bit of space and then it's up to you to do your best. I really enjoyed playing out there tonight.''
Hanley helped the Tigers to a grand final in 1988\. Ellis looks capable of doing the same in 2010.
