Monday Buzz: Tim Sheens exposed by Wests Tigers disgraceful loss to Roosters
The Wests Tigers and Tim Sheens have a lot to answer for after the most embarrassing loss in the club’s history. PHIL ROTHFIELD says concerns over Sheens’ appointment have now been justified.
Where to now for Tigers after Roosters thumping?
NRL: After the Wests Tigers copped 72 points against the Sydney Roosters, the Super Saturday team discuss how to approach the 2023 season.
The Wests Tigers and Tim Sheens have a lot to answer for after Saturday night’s SCG humiliation.
And the first question is this … why did they give up on their season so early?
Who made the decision to release two of their biggest names, Luciano Leilua and David Nofouluma, the players going gangbusters for the Cowboys and Storm?
The sight of them scoring tries and celebrating with their new teammates on Friday night must make Wests Tigers fans feel sick in the stomach.
Who decided to let English international Oliver Gildart leave then watch him score five tries in NSW Cup the very next week for the Roosters’ feeder club North Sydney?
These are serious questions members and fans are entitled to get answers on.
It might have been obvious from early in the season that the Wests Tigers were never going to be a finals contender. But that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel.
There was still an opportunity to at least finish the season at least in a respectable position on the competition ladder. To give some hope for 2023.
Tim Sheens will no doubt argue releasing the players will help with the salary cap next year when he takes over as head coach. That it is short term pain.
But that’s not the point.
They should have had their best 17 players available each and every week of the season where possible.
Especially now injuries have put another two of their stars – Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings - on the sidelines for the rest of the year.
This wasn’t just a loss against the Roosters on Saturday night at the SCG.
It was a shocking capitulation and the biggest and most embarrassing loss in the club’s history.
A complete debacle … 72-6.
There should almost be an asterisk in the history books – that the Roosters beat a reserve grade side, on paper, at least.
The Roosters’ win was the biggest by any team at the SCG, eclipsing St George’s 65-5 win over University in 1937.
The club now looks certain to finish with the wooden spoon – but this could have been avoided.
It is such a mess … and then they wonder why Isaah Papali’i is having reservations about joining the club next year.
The new centre of excellence at Concord means nothing right now.
Seriously, do they really think a shiny new gymnasium, video rooms, a plunge pool, steam room, offices and lockers will make that big a difference.
The jury is now out on Sheens. He is the one who sacked Michael Maguire and allowed the stars to go.
There is no guarantee the four-time premier coach can pick up from where he left the NRL.
His 2005 premiership was a 17 painful years ago.
There were fears when Sheens, aged 70, was first appointed as director of football after being out of NRL head coaching for 10 years that he could possibly have fallen off the pace of the modern game and the business of running NRL clubs.
What has happened over the last few months justifies those concerns.
This club is a complete rabble.
Sheens, the CEO and the board need to accept responsibility more than the players who wore the jersey on Saturday night.
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Monday Buzz: Tim Sheens exposed by Wests Tigers disgraceful loss to Roosters
The Wests Tigers and Tim Sheens have a lot to answer for after the most embarrassing loss in the club’s history. PHIL ROTHFIELD says concerns over Sheens’ appointment have now been justified.Where to now for Tigers after Roosters thumping?
NRL: After the Wests Tigers copped 72 points against the Sydney Roosters, the Super Saturday team discuss how to approach the 2023 season.
The Wests Tigers and Tim Sheens have a lot to answer for after Saturday night’s SCG humiliation.
And the first question is this … why did they give up on their season so early?
Who made the decision to release two of their biggest names, Luciano Leilua and David Nofouluma, the players going gangbusters for the Cowboys and Storm?
The sight of them scoring tries and celebrating with their new teammates on Friday night must make Wests Tigers fans feel sick in the stomach.
Who decided to let English international Oliver Gildart leave then watch him score five tries in NSW Cup the very next week for the Roosters’ feeder club North Sydney?
These are serious questions members and fans are entitled to get answers on.
It might have been obvious from early in the season that the Wests Tigers were never going to be a finals contender. But that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel.
There was still an opportunity to at least finish the season at least in a respectable position on the competition ladder. To give some hope for 2023.
Tim Sheens will no doubt argue releasing the players will help with the salary cap next year when he takes over as head coach. That it is short term pain.
But that’s not the point.
They should have had their best 17 players available each and every week of the season where possible.
Especially now injuries have put another two of their stars – Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings - on the sidelines for the rest of the year.
This wasn’t just a loss against the Roosters on Saturday night at the SCG.
It was a shocking capitulation and the biggest and most embarrassing loss in the club’s history.
A complete debacle … 72-6.
There should almost be an asterisk in the history books – that the Roosters beat a reserve grade side, on paper, at least.
The Roosters’ win was the biggest by any team at the SCG, eclipsing St George’s 65-5 win over University in 1937.
The club now looks certain to finish with the wooden spoon – but this could have been avoided.
It is such a mess … and then they wonder why Isaah Papali’i is having reservations about joining the club next year.
The new centre of excellence at Concord means nothing right now.
Seriously, do they really think a shiny new gymnasium, video rooms, a plunge pool, steam room, offices and lockers will make that big a difference.
The jury is now out on Sheens. He is the one who sacked Michael Maguire and allowed the stars to go.
There is no guarantee the four-time premier coach can pick up from where he left the NRL.
His 2005 premiership was a 17 painful years ago.
There were fears when Sheens, aged 70, was first appointed as director of football after being out of NRL head coaching for 10 years that he could possibly have fallen off the pace of the modern game and the business of running NRL clubs.
What has happened over the last few months justifies those concerns.
This club is a complete rabble.
Sheens, the CEO and the board need to accept responsibility more than the players who wore the jersey on Saturday night.
When you lose 72-6 there is plenty of blame to be shared.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I think they are legimate points.
When you watch Noddys press conference he blames 3 things:
- selling or loaning top grade players
- he is only interim coach and next years coach isn't coaching
- players have clocked off for the year.
All of these things can be apportioned back to decisions Sheens has made.
Thrusting away this year, like this, only hurts us next year. We may be saving a little bit in the cap for next year, but who would want to come?
Top 8 2023
I think they are legimate points.
When you watch Noddys press conference he blames 3 things:
- selling or loaning top grade players
- he is only interim coach and next years coach isn't coaching
- players have clocked off for the year.
All of these things can be apportioned back to decisions Sheens has made.
Thrusting away this year, like this, only hurts us next year. We may be saving a little bit in the cap for next year, but who would want to come?
I don't think the loans made much difference, neither Nofa or Gildart would have been in 1st grade. Releasing Luch hurt and the players have definitely given up on the year.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I had hoped last years spanking by the Storm was rock bottom, and then the last round towel-up by the Bulldogs might have been rock bottom, but alas here we are again. How many more rock bottoms are we to have.
It’s been a long painful 11 year decent into the bosom of the wooden spoon.
Sheens has a lot to answer for ..why was Kimmorley given the the interim job when there was a respected coach already in place that the players actually responded to my thoughts on that failure was always the motivation! Moving the players on did not bother me as I never rated them anyway , Nofoalumas comments of late just highlites how bad his attitude is. Sheens set this up to fail miserably this is a blight on his reputation and to be frank he should never of come back ! As much as I like Benjis enthusiasm in all seriousness the guy has not even got a coaching accreditation and Farah I wish he would just disappear he is bad karma for this club .
Somone or more need to take ownership of this mess and heads need to roll …..it’s time for the Wests Group to decide whether they want to continue with this endeavour..IMO there heart is not in it and the footy side of the group is just something that has always been tacked onto the organisation and are suffering it as long as it does not cost the group to much money.
This is not a sad day as every day for a decade has been a sad day ,the group of individuals running this organisation need to take a long hard look at the decisions they have made in the past as now witness where they have taken this club today to the bottom of the heap …they are a disgrace !
I’ve been guilty of continually being over optimistic on our chances of coming out of this mess. Watching the eels and raiders, the cowboys and broncos recover from the cellar and now the bulldogs who are clearly on their way back up and yet if anything we are getting worse. I think I’ve lost faith this administration can fix this. Sacking a coach so early in the season (after reviewing his position in the offseason), publicly failing to get your target replacement coach, releasing starting players, having a public battle with your star recruit for next year, announcing a coach with no coaching experience (if it works it’s a fluke). No other club could do this.
I’ve been guilty of continually being over optimistic on our chances of coming out of this mess. Watching the eels and raiders, the cowboys and broncos recover from the cellar and now the bulldogs who are clearly on their way back up and yet if anything we are getting worse. I think I’ve lost faith this administration can fix this. Sacking a coach so early in the season (after reviewing his position in the offseason), publicly failing to get your target replacement coach, releasing starting players, having a public battle with your star recruit for next year, announcing a coach with no coaching experience (if it works it’s a fluke). No other club could do this.
Yep. Winning starts at the front office. Until the front office changes I expect us to continue to flounder because the front office will continue to make poor decisions.
It would be a mistake for Sheens to take over this year. Let him concentrate on planning for next year. Him taking over this year would have no change on the outcomes and would poison confidence in the squad. Much better a clean start with some new faces next year.
This is classic Rothfield.The penultimate moment to put the boot in whilst simultaneously twisting the knife.How pathetically predictable,and it won’t stop in print media.The Murdoch hyenas will be off the leash on NRL360 and tearing at the carcass,make no mistake.
Prior to the Roosters game and given what happened the week before against the Sharks,my expectations were very low.When Luke Garner goes down I’m thinking cricket score,and it was so painful to have to endure the rest.In reality it was the perfect storm and we’ve been sailing headlong into the eye of it for some weeks.It starts with sacking the coach,rightfully or wrongfully,shedding players and knowingly relinquishing our season with an eye on the next but all the while being compromised by further scourge of injury,Twal,Stefano,Brooks,Garner,Hastings etc...We rolled the dice and had no real contingency plan,or blindly didn’t choose to believe the worst could happen.Now here we are at our lowest ebb with the wooden spoon looking likely.Its really easy to look for scapegoats and apportion blame,but as hard as it is we’ve already made our bed and whatever the case must lie in it and see out our season.The next fortnight will be a great test of character for all and sundry.The simple fact though is we’re out of troops,end of story.
The other side to the perfect storm is the Roosters and their roster.It completely defies belief,and it is only strengthened for next year.How they managed to sign Lodge on top of all the others,Crichton and the Cheese for next year is further baffling.These were the questions amongst many as they put us to the sword and ran the cleaners right through us.
Sheens as head of football is absolutely responsible.
He is establishing a culture of mediocrity. He did not back Maguire, made a poor decision by appointing Kimmorley, rewarded underperformers by loaning them out or granting them a release and is awfully quiet now.
We need to start by making players accountable for on field performance by dropping them when warranted and stop recruiting has beens.
Sheens as head of football is absolutely responsible.
He is establishing a culture of mediocrity. He did not back Maguire, made a poor decision by appointing Kimmorley, rewarded underperformers by loaning them out or granting them a release and is awfully quiet now.
We need to start by making players accountable for on field performance by dropping them when warranted and stop recruiting has beens.
The people most responsible for the position we are in now are those that hired Maguire in the first place. Not wanting to rehash old issues but his tenure was absolutely disastrous. He was unable to even get the team fit for the season, which is unforgivable. His recruitment over that period was dreadful.
That aside, Sheens absolutely wrote this season off when he sacked him. I didn't have an issue with that at the time, but losing 72-6 and having ZERO new additions for next season (other than those already signed) has us in a terrible position moving forward. Essentially we're a joke - a meme club.
@eastiemagpie Unfortunately our stocks are so low that player accountability is no longer an option but I feel your frustration.With Tamou,Seyfarth and Garner out we’re looking down the selection gun barrel.In retrospect,the idea of killing off the season to enhance our cap comes at quite a cost,predominantly to the die hard fan,but overall a PR disaster,with our farmed-out players figuring in finals,as we register the greatest flogging in our history.Not a good look.
The injury to Jackson Hastings makes it abundantly clear that his retention should be the absolute primary objective for the club.Throw the kitchen sink and an open cheque book at him.Just nail his signature and give him the captaincy.
@eastiemagpie Unfortunately our stocks are so low that player accountability is no longer an option but I feel your frustration.With Tamou,Seyfarth and Garner out we’re looking down the selection gun barrel.In retrospect,the idea of killing off the season to enhance our cap comes at quite a cost,predominantly to the die hard fan,but overall a PR disaster,with our farmed-out players figuring in finals,as we register the greatest flogging in our history.Not a good look.
The injury to Jackson Hastings makes it abundantly clear that his retention should be the absolute primary objective for the club.Throw the kitchen sink and an open cheque book at him.Just nail his signature and give him the captaincy.
I wish I could share your enthusiasm for Hastings. He is a player we need to retain but I wouldn’t throw the kitchen sink at him. I’m frustrated at the moment so my judgment on him may be compromised.
@eastiemagpie I guess what I’m alluding to is we can’t afford to take the hit of losing him as a player as well as being made a mockery of,time and time again.A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and Jacko Hastings has proved he has all the attributes.A passionate player of his calibre doesn’t materialise overnight.He possesses vision,leadership and direction on and off the field.He’s shown great respect for our fan base and is a highly articulate and thoughtful communicator.For mine he typifies everything that’s been lacking in our club’s leadership and will be a great asset and building block going forward.All the qualities as well as the intangibles that you can’t put a price upon staring us in the face.
