Sheens won't rush to pick new kicker

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Sheens won't rush to pick new kicker after Benji gives himself the boot ADRIAN WARREN
August 2, 2010

WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens is set to decide on the contentious and vital issue of who should be his side's goalkicker after superstar Benji Marshall relinquished the duty during Saturday night's clash with Cronulla.

Five-eighth Marshall opted to hand over the responsibility in the second half after landing just one out of three attempts before the break.

It put his success rate at just four out of 14 attempts in the Tigers' past three games.

Centre Chris Lawrence took over the task, finishing with one from two in his team's 24-22 win at Leichhardt Oval.

Following the game, Sheens declined to anoint Lawrence as the Tigers' new full-time kicker.

''That's something I will decide in the next couple of days,'' Sheens said after the game. ''We'll make a decision then.''

Marshall declined to comment after the match.

Sheens has a kicking issue of another type to deal with heading into next Saturday's ANZ Stadium clash with Souths.

Three of the four tries the Tigers conceded against Cronulla came from their failure to deal with high kicks.

''We were pretty scrappy and piggy-backed them out of their own end numerous times, and gave them the opportunities to put up those attacking kicks that they scored their tries off,'' Tigers captain and hooker Robbie Farah said. ''They were pretty soft tries and that's something we have got to address.''

A contentious 'held' call against centre Ben Pomeroy denied the Sharks a potential late match-winning try and enabled the Tigers to consolidate fourth spot.

Farah and Sheens were far from happy with their team's performance.

''We know that's nowhere near good enough,'' Farah said. ''We sang the team song. It was a bit of an empty feeling singing it.

''You always want to play well and get the win, but we've got a lot of work to do to be able to compete with the top sides.

''The two games we've lost in the last couple of months have been to Manly and the Dragons and they are probably the benchmark and that's where we've got to be at.''

Forward Chris Heighington said the Tigers had yet to produce an 80-minute performance this season.

He identified the Tigers' 50-10 loss to Souths in May as the turning point of the season for his club, which has won eight out of 10 games since that debacle.

''We were all embarrassed, we had a couple of real close meetings after that game and we sorted a few things out,'' Heighington said.

''It [Saturday] is a completely different game for us. But I suppose it will be in the back of the mind, for sure.''

Centre Blake Ayshford will have an X-ray today on a possibly broken left hand.
 
mmm well, it appeared to be quite clear Benji didn't want to do it anymore, kicking 4 out of the last 14 is pretty bad. This year it appears for and against may be more vital than it has been, we've certainly missed out on a lot of points.
 
I believe he's injured. I'd be looking to bring Meaney in for goal kicking duties but I believe he's injured as well.
 
What sort of dumb headline is that??
"wont rush"

After 4 years, you'd think everyone would already know Sheens is in no rush to get a new kicker..
 
Sheens has a true halfback who is a great goalkicker rotting away in State Cup.
No halfback and no goalkicker in 1st grade.
But then decides he will give him a go on the wing and fullback.
Idiot..
 
Benji still No.1 kicker for Tigers
August 3, 2010 - 4:22PM

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says out-of-form Benji Marshall is still the NRL side's "first priority" goalkicker.

Marshall, who has booted just four from 14 in the past three weeks, sacked himself as kicker during Saturday night's 24-22 win over Cronulla.

The five-eighth had booted just one from three at Leichhardt Oval before handing the duties to centre Chris Lawrence.

"We're practising with options but Benji's still our first priority," Sheens told reporters on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Lawrence's centre partner Blake Ayshford could play in Saturday's clash with South Sydney, despite a fractured hand.

"The X-ray didn't show a lot so it's now a CT scan," Sheens said.

"I think it's a fine break.

"He's still got some pain but the chances are he'll play.

"He played the second half with it so chances are he'll play but we'll just have to wait and see what the CT scan says."

The Tigers will look to atone for a 50-10 round 10 humiliation by the Rabbitohs at the SCG when the sides do battle at ANZ Stadium.
 
Benji not given the boot by Wests Tigers
DAVID BENIUK
August 3, 2010 - 4:44PM

AAP

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says out-of-form Benji Marshall is still the NRL side's "first priority" goalkicker.

Marshall, who has booted just four from 14 in the past three weeks, sacked himself as kicker during Saturday night's 24-22 win over Cronulla.

The five-eighth had booted just one from three at Leichhardt Oval before handing the duties to centre Chris Lawrence.

"We're practising with options but Benji's still our first priority," Sheens told reporters on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Tigers' coach Tim Sheens says his team won't bench their signature razzle dazzle permanently, despite weeks of winning ugly since an even uglier loss to South Sydney.

The Tigers have won eight from 10 since their season's low point, a 50-10 shellacking at the hands of the Rabbitohs at the SCG in round 10.

But they've put away much of the flamboyance, Benji Marshall flick-passes included, which had become their hallmark.

In the process they've improved their defence - from leaking an average of 25 points a game up to and including the Souths disaster, to just 17 since.

"We had some issues but we'd lost the three games previous (to round 10) and that was probably the bottom of the barrel for us this season," Sheens told reporters on Tuesday.

"It did make us have a good look at ourselves and we copped some criticism and rightly so.

"From there we've improved our football somewhat even though we can play a little better, but I'm happy with the way we're steadily getting there."

"Steadily" has been the key word and it epitomised a lacklustre 24-22 win over Cronulla on Saturday night.

"We have put (the flamboyance) a little bit away but we're not going to change our style," Sheens said.

"Wests Tigers are Wests Tigers and we play to our strengths.

"In that period of time there was a lot of wet weather footy, we had a lot of key players out.

"I think benching the so-called flamboyant footy's come from the fact we didn't always have our full personnel."

Captain Robbie Farah said the Tigers were working on picking their moments for the big plays.

"They're there, we've just got to find the balance," Farah said.

"At the moment we're plugging away at it.

"We were pretty disappointed after the weekend, it was a pretty empty feeling in the sheds even though we won, but having a look at the video I don't think we went too bad."

Farah admitted goalkicking was a concern.

"It makes a huge difference turning those fours into sixes," he said.

"You don't want it to cost you a game in the semis.

"Benji's been working real hard on his kicking and at training he kicks them from all over the place."

Meanwhile, Lawrence's centre partner Blake Ayshford could play in Saturday's clash with South Sydney, despite a fractured hand.

"The X-ray didn't show a lot so it's now a CT scan," Sheens said.

"I think it's a fine break.

"He's still got some pain but the chances are he'll play.

"He played the second half with it so chances are he'll play but we'll just have to wait and see what the CT scan says."

The Tigers will look to atone for a 50-10 round 10 humiliation by the Rabbitohs at the SCG when the sides do battle at ANZ Stadium.
 
Why the hell would you play Ayshford when we have so much depth in that position? Especially when the depth is better!

As for Marshall staying on… like ink said... Stubborn
 
HE has the worst goal-kicking record in the NRL but Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens will persist with the boot of Benji Marshall. The Kiwis captain has landed just 48 from 80, a strike rate of 60 per cent. Compare that with North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston, who leads the statistic with 86 per cent. Marshall's opponent this weekend, South Sydney's Chris Sandow, has an 82.6 per cent record.

In the round 18 win against Gold Coast Marshall missed nothing, kicking both conversions, one penalty and a 50-metre field goal.

But since then he has potted just four from 14, against the Cowboys (1/6), Manly (2/5) and Cronulla (1/3). In fact, against the Sharks, Marshall sacked himself and handed the ball to centre Chris Lawrence, who converted Liam Fulton's second try but missed adding the extras after Lote Tuqiri scored.

Six games over the past six rounds have been decided by just two points, including the Tigers' 24-22 win over the Sharks. And with just five rounds left until the top eight are decided, an accurate goalkicker is a vital asset.

"We're practising with options but Benji's still our main priority," Sheens said yesterday, as the Tigers completed a skills session at Concord Oval before Saturday's match against traditional rival South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.

Blake Ayshford has been chosen despite Sheens confirming his centre has a minor hand fracture. "The X-ray didn't show a lot, so he's now off for a CT scan. I think it's a fine break," Sheens said. "He's still got some pain but chances are he'll play."

[Source](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/sheens-sticking-with-benji/story-e6frg7mf-1225900800890)
 
Really their is no other choice, Farah is a part time kicker at best and Lawrence did not convince me he is any better
 
No other options at the moment, I am sure Coach sheens will already be addressing this especially for 2011.
 
As if. Goalkicking is important. Important enough to bring up someone who can kick and bump out a player. If Meaney was fit I would be putting him straight in on the wing, Ryan to centre and Ayshford to the bench. Then there's always Jamie Sharkie, sure he isn't setting the world on fire but he is a better goalkicker than Marshall. Put him in the top squad and drop Dwyer. Sure it's harsh on Dwyer but Sharkie wouldn't be much worse than Dwyer and KICKS GOALS.
 
@crouching_tiger said:
Sheens has a true halfback who is a great goalkicker rotting away in State Cup.
No halfback and no goalkicker in 1st grade.
But then decides he will give him a go on the wing and fullback.
Idiot..
Click to expand...

I assume you are referring to Lazarus?

Is this the same guy who you have been calling for to play fullback for BRET? The next best option for fullback at the club? However you claim that he was 'played out of position' in fullback when he played top grade?
 
With Mullaney, Meaney and Corby injured the goal kicking in the lowers is woeful…

I agree with you Mac on Meaney but Sharkie.....seriously... 😕

No way he's better than Benji..
 
@supercoach said:
Really their is no other choice, Farah is a part time kicker at best and **Lawrence did not convince me he is any better**
Click to expand...

:laughing: He had two attempts, one from the sideline.
 
@Centaur said:
@crouching_tiger said:
Sheens has a true halfback who is a great goalkicker rotting away in State Cup.
No halfback and no goalkicker in 1st grade.
But then decides he will give him a go on the wing and fullback.
Idiot..

I assume you are referring to Lazarus?

Is this the same guy who you have been calling for to play fullback for BRET? The next best option for fullback at the club? However you claim that he was 'played out of position' in fullback when he played top grade?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Correct.
 
unfortunately our goal kicking is not to 1st grade standard,its been this way since Hodgo left.We have paid the price in the past for poor goal kicking and most likely we will pay the price in the future.
 
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