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Sheens hopes late woes act as wake-up call
Glenn Jackson
May 1, 2012
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WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens is hoping the ''embarrassment'' of Sunday's near-capitulation to Parramatta will be an antidote to his team's late fades.
With the Tigers losing late to South Sydney in round five and conceding five tries in 13 minutes to Parramatta on Sunday, Sheens said his side had not always paid enough respect to the opposition. That was clearly the case against the Eels, after the Tigers led 31-0 before scraping home 31-30.
''We slugged it out for 65 minutes and then embarrassed ourselves,'' Sheens said. ''I think we have to address it and we started to straight after the game. And the players certainly had some say in that.
''We just clocked off. It's just a matter of being mentally switched on and a bit more ruthless. We've got to be professional enough to shut it down.''
The Tigers beat Penrith 30-0 in round seven and were well on their way to another shutout until the final 13 minutes at Parramatta Stadium.
''We could have been 61 points in two weeks without one against us, but there was a weakness in our mental attitude,'' Sheens said.
''We've got to be able to shut a game out. Against the better sides, it's not an issue. We know we've got to keep playing [against top sides]. When we think we've got them, we don't pay them enough respect.''
The Tigers will have an opportunity to swiftly show whether they have learnt a lesson. They play lowly Gold Coast at Skilled Park on Saturday.
''No side's going to give up,'' Sheens said. ''We've got to pay respect to everyone.''
That said, Sheens said he did not want to focus too much on the Tigers' late failings. ''The main thing is, we've put a stake in the ground, with back-to-back wins. That's given us some confidence.''
Meanwhile, NSW centre Matt Cooper has endorsed Danny Buderus's return to the State of Origin arena, declaring the hooker's experience could be the key to the Blues' first series win in seven years.
Cooper has played 11 of his 13 Origin games alongside Buderus, including the successful 2004 and 2005 campaigns.
The 33-year-old reckons Buderus brings a winning culture back to NSW after a stint in the English Super League and should be a starter.
''I'd say yes, he's a great leader and a great bloke,'' Cooper said.
''He's an Origin player, he gives 100 per cent every time he's on that field … That's one bloke I'd have in the side. You could build a side around Danny because he's going to give it his all.''
Glenn Jackson
May 1, 2012
\
\
WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens is hoping the ''embarrassment'' of Sunday's near-capitulation to Parramatta will be an antidote to his team's late fades.
With the Tigers losing late to South Sydney in round five and conceding five tries in 13 minutes to Parramatta on Sunday, Sheens said his side had not always paid enough respect to the opposition. That was clearly the case against the Eels, after the Tigers led 31-0 before scraping home 31-30.
''We slugged it out for 65 minutes and then embarrassed ourselves,'' Sheens said. ''I think we have to address it and we started to straight after the game. And the players certainly had some say in that.
''We just clocked off. It's just a matter of being mentally switched on and a bit more ruthless. We've got to be professional enough to shut it down.''
The Tigers beat Penrith 30-0 in round seven and were well on their way to another shutout until the final 13 minutes at Parramatta Stadium.
''We could have been 61 points in two weeks without one against us, but there was a weakness in our mental attitude,'' Sheens said.
''We've got to be able to shut a game out. Against the better sides, it's not an issue. We know we've got to keep playing [against top sides]. When we think we've got them, we don't pay them enough respect.''
The Tigers will have an opportunity to swiftly show whether they have learnt a lesson. They play lowly Gold Coast at Skilled Park on Saturday.
''No side's going to give up,'' Sheens said. ''We've got to pay respect to everyone.''
That said, Sheens said he did not want to focus too much on the Tigers' late failings. ''The main thing is, we've put a stake in the ground, with back-to-back wins. That's given us some confidence.''
Meanwhile, NSW centre Matt Cooper has endorsed Danny Buderus's return to the State of Origin arena, declaring the hooker's experience could be the key to the Blues' first series win in seven years.
Cooper has played 11 of his 13 Origin games alongside Buderus, including the successful 2004 and 2005 campaigns.
The 33-year-old reckons Buderus brings a winning culture back to NSW after a stint in the English Super League and should be a starter.
''I'd say yes, he's a great leader and a great bloke,'' Cooper said.
''He's an Origin player, he gives 100 per cent every time he's on that field … That's one bloke I'd have in the side. You could build a side around Danny because he's going to give it his all.''
