Tim Sheens fumes at disgraceful rumours

[alien]

<big>Wests Tigers roar over internet rumours</big>
By David Beniuk AAP
Sun, May 29, 2011 - 6:51 PM

Furious coach Tim Sheens says the Wests Tigers will do everything in their power to take action against those responsible for internet rumours about several of the NRL club's star players.

Sheens labelled a "disgrace" the emergence of unsubstantiated allegations on a social networking website that stars Benji Marshall, Bryce Gibbs and Liam Fulton were involved in a feud at training over a personal issue.

The rumours followed Sheens' barring of the team song after last weekend's poor display in scoring a lucky win over Penrith and reports of a clear-the-air meeting early last week.

Meanwhile contracted big names Gibbs, Fulton and Tim Moltzen were told they were free to negotiate with other clubs.

"Every club's got issues with players coming and going," Sheens said after Sunday's 24-18 loss to St George Illawarra at Kogarah.

"The other stuff you are talking about is disgraceful.

"On the social media situation, there doesn't seem (to be) anything we can do about it.

"It's a disgraceful thing to be saying and pushing around about the team and the players and the individuals."

Asked if the Tigers could do anything about it, Sheens said: "The club will be, that's for sure."

"If someone could track it down that would be nice."

Captain Robbie Farah said the rumours had been amusing at first, but the joke had not lasted long.

"At first I had a little chuckle about it but then it got out of control and starts to affect the people involved," Farah said.

"It didn't affect us. If anything it probably brought us closer together."

Moltzen, meanwhile, said he had no intention of leaving the club before his contract finishes at the end of 2012.

"I don't want to go anywhere so I'm happy in the fact that I've got a contract for this year and going into next as well," he said.

"I'm not looking to move anywhere and the club's not looking to move me on so I'm happy where I am."

His chances of staying will be bolstered by the expected move of fullback Wade McKinnon, who suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up on Sunday, to the UK Super League.

The Tigers will take some solace out of their strong second half performance against the Dragons and will possibly have stars Lote Tuqiri (arm), Gareth Ellis (ankle) and Keith Galloway (concussion) back to play Newcastle next weekend.

On a less positive note, winger Matt Utai suffered a suspected fracture to his arm at Kogarah.

In Sunday's other game, Cronulla battled hard before falling 14-8 to the Storm in Melbourne.

Penrith host South Sydney on Monday night to complete round 12.

http://www.nrl.com/wests-tigers-roar-over-internet-rumours/tabid/10874/newsid/63026/default.aspx

 

[bigdamo]

its the only thing they have roared at all year oh dear

 

[innsaneink]

Yeah….seem easily distracted

 

[king_sirro]

Time to put it to bed. I didnt think they would even entertain this stuff post game but they have, so surely it has to end now.

 

[steve-o]

so what social networking website did it come from? surely we can find out who started these rumours then name and shame them

 

[Chunky_love_machine]

Whew!!!! glad we now know why our team sucks. Hey here's an idea, let's start writing stuff about the other NRL teams and watch them fall apart. Oh wait they probably aren't that precious about this sort of crap!!! Aren't these guys adults? Pump up and play some football, guys stop worrying about this crap and grow up!!

 

[Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan]

There has been numerous mentions to the alledged thingo and according to this forum they originated from the LeagueUnlimited Forum, I have tried to join this forum in the past but have always had a stumbling point or 2 regarding registration.
I have come to the conclusion that LeagueUnlimited is a closeted secret society much in the vein of the Masonics, Hells Angels, Notorious, Titans fans & those Da Vinci movie fans & on line gamers etc etc.

 

[steve-o]

I have come to the conclusion that LeagueUnlimited is a closeted secret society much in the vein of the Masonics, Hells Angels, Notorious, Titans fans & those Da Vinci movie fans & on line gamers etc etc.

:laughing:

 

[fergiefurr]

no other club worries about this kind of crap. its like when sheens blew up about 'so called fans' bagging fitzy last year.

worry about winning football games boys, that is your job after all

 

[Kul]

Was plastered on a couple of Facebook groups too for several days beforehand and I'd image that's what the article is referring to, but yep, LU is pretty well that! Haha!

FTR, we've been in contact several times with the club since Thursday for their advice on the issue (see the notice posted on Thursday afternoon) and have offered help if they requested it.
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[Chunky_love_machine]

no other club worries about this kind of crap. its like when sheens blew up about 'so called fans' bagging fitzy last year.

worry about winning football games boys, that is your job after all

Great, good work Fergie! Now you've probably hurt someones feelings. How are they going to win a game now with this on their minds? …... Sarcasm off now! :roll

 

[crystalpink74]

OMG, read the article properly & it says nothing about it affecting their game. Don't start reading into things that aren't there, it's how this crap started in the first place. I think Facebook was where it went explosive, i'm not on there myself so not absolutely positive, but apparently 'A Guess Who' in Telegraph, about nrl players from a club not doing well & rumour of unrest cause of cheating, blah blah blah. Can't believe people buy into this crap. Humphries said it got so bad Fri. & that's why they had to come out & mention it. Nothing to do with how they are playing. Also stupid rumour that Moltz told he can shop around, just cause other rumour said Rabbitohs looking at him, Were they??!! Clearly states that Moltz say's he's not going anywhere & contracted till 2012.

 

[Cysquatch]

If it's not affecting them then why was it brought up and given air time in a press conference? It smacks of a coach/team looking to outside things, yet again, rather than focusing on the real and consistent issues regarding our team. I like that they stick solid but please, some things you just let go thru to the keeper.

Please, dont let us become like manly with the "woe are us" stuff. It's rugby league, get out there and rip in
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[Discussion_Bot]

Furious Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens last night described a scurrilous attempt to derail his side's premiership campaign on social media networks as "disgraceful".

Sheens had just watched his side lose 24-18 to St George Illawarra at WIN Jubilee - the Tigers' fifth loss in their past eight games.They have now lost more matches this season than they have won - a deeply concerning scenario for a team many tipped to play in this year's grand final.

Yesterday's defeat also comes amid accusations of player unrest at the club after several stars were told they could leave to help ease salary cap pressure.

The Tigers aren't quite in crisis but a loss to Newcastle next Monday night would see pressure start to mount.

Wests Tigers were hindered yesterday by the loss of Wade McKinnon (hamstring) in the warm-up and a broken arm to winger Matt Utai during the game.

But Sheens couldn't mask his anger in the post-match press conference at rumours last week that emerged on Twitter and through text messages of an alleged punch-up at training between stars Benji Marshall and Bryce Gibbs over a personal issue also involving Liam Fulton.

The Tigers angrily denied it ever happened.

"It was disgraceful and there was nothing we could do about it," Sheens said.

"It was very ordinary. The club will be doing something about it. But we won't be using that as an excuse.

"But today's not about talking about that sort of garbage. It's about talking footy."

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah also responded to the rumours.

"At first I had a chuckle about it and then it got out of control," Farah said. "But it didn't affect us. If anything it brought us closer together."

Tigers management called a meeting last week to discuss possible disharmony.

There have been suggestions that some players are unhappy that Gibbs, Fulton and Tim Moltzen have been given permission to talk with rival clubs, despite being under contract to the Tigers.

It was also suggested yesterday that Chris Heighington could be "shopped around" to accommodate the impending arrival of Adam Blair, but that was denied by Heighington's manager, Wayne Beavis.

"Every club has issues at this time of year about players coming and going," Sheens said.

The Tigers sit on 12 competition points from 11 matches - a similar position to last year before they stormed home to finish one game short of the grand final.

They still have Test players Gareth Ellis and Lote Tuqiri to return, along with Todd Payten and Chris Lawrence.

"There is still plenty to take out of the game," Farah said.

[Source](http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tim-sheens-fumes-at-disgraceful-rumours/story-e6frexnr-1226065206628)

 

[Saturnalia]

Gibbs is a star?

 

[Balmain_Bug]

I just think its a DISGRACE Willow allows the FULTON/MARSHALL/GIBBS thread to be published publicly about ' that' allegation but closes my thread about the failure of the 2011 orange jersey with the black V. Great work WT Forum. Get your priorities right Willow you power hungry NAZI. You are a disgrace.

 

[Snake]

Interesting!

 

[crystalpink74]

If it's not affecting them then why was it brought up and given air time in a press conference? It smacks of a coach/team looking to outside things, yet again, rather than focusing on the real and consistent issues regarding our team. I like that they stick solid but please, some things you just let go thru to the keeper.

Please, dont let us become like manly with the "woe are us" stuff. It's rugby league, get out there and rip in
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Unfortunately the club had to respond because the rumour, that the media helped create, had gotten out of control over the net, they were being bombarded for answers. Sheens was only answering the question asked, but rightly so that the club is angry, it was a rude & insulting rumour. The team are only human you know (not robots), i don't think many of us could put up with that crap for too long. Tired of this 'Suck it Up' mentality, esp. towards men in sports, like nothing is suppose to bother anyone EVER.
Please don't compare us to Manly 'Media [This word has been automatically removed]'(am i aloud to say that?) Hasler.

 

[Joel Helmes]

If there was no truth to the rumour than who cares?

Why didn't the club react sooner?

 

[Chadman_s_Ghost]

Like Crystal said- I've got no problem with Sheens addressing the 'rumour', and they certainly didn't use it as an excuse for the loss.

I think actually, it was a good time for Sheens to address it- they've played the game, get it out of the way before it becomes a distraction to next weeks game. Probably, given that things started to hot up late in the week, the club felt it would be too big a distraction to address it pre-Dragons.

I think the more likely 'issue' with the Tigers would be the part about Fulton, Gibbs & Moltzen (and Heighington??) being told they can look elsewhere for next season. Given that the club has gone to great lengths to tie up their talented roster, having these guys told they can now be cut loose to bring in a high-priced guy from outside (Blair- who I'm still not convinced is worth the money being talked about), has the chance of being a bigger distraction. The club seems to be pretty close, so suddenly having 3-4 of the guys told they are going to have to go to make way for Blair could disrupt things a little.

I don't know why the NRL can't have a "Free Agency" period- say from the week after the Grand Final to the end of December- where all the off contract guys can sign new deals etc. These mid-season player deals don't do anything for continuity for a club during a season.