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SHEENS TO FIX THE 'ROCKS AND DIAMONDS'
By Wayne Cousins
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens will work hard over the off-season in fixing “the rocks and diamonds” of the team’s attacking flair.
Speaking at the post match press conference, Sheens admitted it was disappointing the team had finished in ninth position but focused his attention on the months ahead.
“The win was a good way to finish but at the end of the day, we didn’t get there. There is disappointment but at the same token, there is something to build on,’’ Sheens said.
“Our U20s side made the top four and Balmain and Western Suburbs are in the State Cup finals, so there is a bit building for the club there.”
When asked about Benji Marshall’s man-of-the-match performance, Sheens shifted the focus on the team.
“The flick pass, when all he had to do was pass and we score, and he flicks it over the sideline. There the things, the rocks and the diamonds that come with our team at times, and we have got to get through that,’’ Sheens said.
“We just can’t keep doing that. It is alright for everyone in the crowd to scream but I am screaming in the box every time something like that happens. They are the little things that sometimes makes the difference to us.
“I know it is a balance and we want to play some football, that’s our style. Certainly the kids coming through from the 20s, young Robert Lui and them, are exactly the same style of player, so maybe I have to give myself an uppercut for recruitment.
“But at the end of the day, we do play some footy and I think the boys enjoy the football we play. But at the same token, we just have got to have that little bit of a hard edge on us that says when to do it and when not to do it.”
Sheens praised the courage and toughness of his men with seven players taking the field with injections.
“It was the most the doctor had ever had to do, so we did have some issues,’’ Sheens said.
“And that was our problem. At the back end of the season, I’ve lost a starting full-back, both starting wingers, probably the replacement winger in big Peni Tagive early in the season, Bryce Gibbs and so it went.
“If we had made it, we would have probably limped in anyway. We just got banged up at the wrong end of the season.
“Three weeks ago, we were looking pretty strong, we were going well. I had to move the half-back back to full-back. They are not excuses, just reasons, and we know that. It just threw us off track a little.
“Probably in the middle of the season, we had four games we lost by two points. Every club’s got that but we had a group of them. We are a better side, and we are more optimistic, because we have played better overall all season.
“We haven’t had that up and down win by 40, get belted by 40\. There has been a lot more consistency in our efforts, even given that period when we had a lot of injury to key players or Robbie and Benji were out playing rep footy. We had that illness thing go through the club as well. There are a whole heap of things but we have come through it and played some good footy at the back end of the season. It is something to build on.
“I’m proud of the effort. It is always just the execution here and there that has let us all down.
“Coaching staff and players have got to be better next season, simple as that. The review will start, as they always do, whether you finish ninth or second, you are still going to review yourself and start thinking about next season.
“There is only one successful team this year and that is whoever wins it.’’
By Wayne Cousins
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens will work hard over the off-season in fixing “the rocks and diamonds” of the team’s attacking flair.
Speaking at the post match press conference, Sheens admitted it was disappointing the team had finished in ninth position but focused his attention on the months ahead.
“The win was a good way to finish but at the end of the day, we didn’t get there. There is disappointment but at the same token, there is something to build on,’’ Sheens said.
“Our U20s side made the top four and Balmain and Western Suburbs are in the State Cup finals, so there is a bit building for the club there.”
When asked about Benji Marshall’s man-of-the-match performance, Sheens shifted the focus on the team.
“The flick pass, when all he had to do was pass and we score, and he flicks it over the sideline. There the things, the rocks and the diamonds that come with our team at times, and we have got to get through that,’’ Sheens said.
“We just can’t keep doing that. It is alright for everyone in the crowd to scream but I am screaming in the box every time something like that happens. They are the little things that sometimes makes the difference to us.
“I know it is a balance and we want to play some football, that’s our style. Certainly the kids coming through from the 20s, young Robert Lui and them, are exactly the same style of player, so maybe I have to give myself an uppercut for recruitment.
“But at the end of the day, we do play some footy and I think the boys enjoy the football we play. But at the same token, we just have got to have that little bit of a hard edge on us that says when to do it and when not to do it.”
Sheens praised the courage and toughness of his men with seven players taking the field with injections.
“It was the most the doctor had ever had to do, so we did have some issues,’’ Sheens said.
“And that was our problem. At the back end of the season, I’ve lost a starting full-back, both starting wingers, probably the replacement winger in big Peni Tagive early in the season, Bryce Gibbs and so it went.
“If we had made it, we would have probably limped in anyway. We just got banged up at the wrong end of the season.
“Three weeks ago, we were looking pretty strong, we were going well. I had to move the half-back back to full-back. They are not excuses, just reasons, and we know that. It just threw us off track a little.
“Probably in the middle of the season, we had four games we lost by two points. Every club’s got that but we had a group of them. We are a better side, and we are more optimistic, because we have played better overall all season.
“We haven’t had that up and down win by 40, get belted by 40\. There has been a lot more consistency in our efforts, even given that period when we had a lot of injury to key players or Robbie and Benji were out playing rep footy. We had that illness thing go through the club as well. There are a whole heap of things but we have come through it and played some good footy at the back end of the season. It is something to build on.
“I’m proud of the effort. It is always just the execution here and there that has let us all down.
“Coaching staff and players have got to be better next season, simple as that. The review will start, as they always do, whether you finish ninth or second, you are still going to review yourself and start thinking about next season.
“There is only one successful team this year and that is whoever wins it.’’
