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TIM Sheens wants to get one thing off his chest in all this commotion about clearing the decks to make way for star recruit Adam Blair.
The Wests Tigers coach wants to explain his decision to let Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs go to Cronulla to sign the former Storm enforcer.
'Everyone is assuming we cut players to fit Adam - Adam was part of the puzzle but only part of it," Sheens said. "The other major parts was the signing of the two young props (Aaron ) Woods and (Matt) Groat - and also a number of other players who had increases to their contracts built in this year.
"We almost had room to keep everybody and Adam to be quite honest but we wanted to keep the two young props and we also had to increase contracts on two or three other players we wanted to keep in the system.
"Those sort of things squeeze people out of your club. It was disappointing.
"You ask any coach, they don't want to lose any player if they can help it but that decision had to be made.
"They were tough decisions but I continually cop, 'Oh, you had to do it for Adam Blair'.
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"We didn't have to do it for Adam. We were either going to keep the two props that went to Cronulla or we were going to lose the two young ones but the same club Cronulla chased them as well so I had to make a decision as to which props I wanted to keep and I made a call."
And so the Tigers move forward - the bookies' favourites for 2012.
Sheens just smiles.
February favourites have a history of falling over come September - and for the past two years the Tigers have suffered finals heartbreak.
Last year it was in the grand final qualifier against the Warriors when Krisnan Inu scored that controversial try.
After the game the coach could hardly talk it hurt so much - but he's had time to contemplate the positives.
Every year offers a fresh start, he said.
Chris Lawrence, Gareth Ellis, Lote Tuqiri and Simon Dwyer were all missing for extended periods last season through injury and this season he can count on all bar Dwyer.
And along with Blair's arrival, Joel Reddy and Matt Bell have the coach excited, while Tim Moltzen shifts to halfback to cover Robert Lui's departure to the Cowboys.
Moltzen and Benji Marshall now form a lightning quick halves partnership.
"I made the comment (after last weekend's trial win over Parramatta) that I think we have the quickest halves pair in the game and I think the Parramatta game showed that," he said.
"Marshall is super quick and Timmy came from behind to run him (Chris Sandow) down on the intercept and force a turnover.
"I don't think too many other halfbacks could do that, in fact I don't think any other halfbacks could do that."
Then there's the rookie everyone is talking about, James Tedesco.
The 19-year-old started last season playing SG Ball - this season he'll be telling internationals to get cracking.
He is the wildcard in a wonderful roster.
"We have signed him for three years which I think is indicative of what we think of him," Sheens said of the 2010 Australian schoolboy. "As far as whether he will be our first grade fullback from day one and never look back, it's hard to say. He only had half a year in 20s so it is a big ask … just being the boss of the team from the back, telling people what to do. Telling internationals what to do and barking at them. It's not easy for any young man."
But the coach is confident the signing of Blair could make all the difference in 2012.
"I think he is a pivotal signing," Sheens said. "We have the making of an engine room you need to go forward in this game, to lay the platform for Farah and Benji and now Moltzen playing half."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tim-sheens-explains-the-reson-for-recruiting-adam-blair-and-ditching-andrew-fifita-and-bryce-gibbs/story-e6frexnr-1226274153984
The Wests Tigers coach wants to explain his decision to let Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs go to Cronulla to sign the former Storm enforcer.
'Everyone is assuming we cut players to fit Adam - Adam was part of the puzzle but only part of it," Sheens said. "The other major parts was the signing of the two young props (Aaron ) Woods and (Matt) Groat - and also a number of other players who had increases to their contracts built in this year.
"We almost had room to keep everybody and Adam to be quite honest but we wanted to keep the two young props and we also had to increase contracts on two or three other players we wanted to keep in the system.
"Those sort of things squeeze people out of your club. It was disappointing.
"You ask any coach, they don't want to lose any player if they can help it but that decision had to be made.
"They were tough decisions but I continually cop, 'Oh, you had to do it for Adam Blair'.
\
\
"We didn't have to do it for Adam. We were either going to keep the two props that went to Cronulla or we were going to lose the two young ones but the same club Cronulla chased them as well so I had to make a decision as to which props I wanted to keep and I made a call."
And so the Tigers move forward - the bookies' favourites for 2012.
Sheens just smiles.
February favourites have a history of falling over come September - and for the past two years the Tigers have suffered finals heartbreak.
Last year it was in the grand final qualifier against the Warriors when Krisnan Inu scored that controversial try.
After the game the coach could hardly talk it hurt so much - but he's had time to contemplate the positives.
Every year offers a fresh start, he said.
Chris Lawrence, Gareth Ellis, Lote Tuqiri and Simon Dwyer were all missing for extended periods last season through injury and this season he can count on all bar Dwyer.
And along with Blair's arrival, Joel Reddy and Matt Bell have the coach excited, while Tim Moltzen shifts to halfback to cover Robert Lui's departure to the Cowboys.
Moltzen and Benji Marshall now form a lightning quick halves partnership.
"I made the comment (after last weekend's trial win over Parramatta) that I think we have the quickest halves pair in the game and I think the Parramatta game showed that," he said.
"Marshall is super quick and Timmy came from behind to run him (Chris Sandow) down on the intercept and force a turnover.
"I don't think too many other halfbacks could do that, in fact I don't think any other halfbacks could do that."
Then there's the rookie everyone is talking about, James Tedesco.
The 19-year-old started last season playing SG Ball - this season he'll be telling internationals to get cracking.
He is the wildcard in a wonderful roster.
"We have signed him for three years which I think is indicative of what we think of him," Sheens said of the 2010 Australian schoolboy. "As far as whether he will be our first grade fullback from day one and never look back, it's hard to say. He only had half a year in 20s so it is a big ask … just being the boss of the team from the back, telling people what to do. Telling internationals what to do and barking at them. It's not easy for any young man."
But the coach is confident the signing of Blair could make all the difference in 2012.
"I think he is a pivotal signing," Sheens said. "We have the making of an engine room you need to go forward in this game, to lay the platform for Farah and Benji and now Moltzen playing half."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tim-sheens-explains-the-reson-for-recruiting-adam-blair-and-ditching-andrew-fifita-and-bryce-gibbs/story-e6frexnr-1226274153984
