Wests Tigers followers can anticipate to see shades of 2005 this season.
Not solely is Tim Sheens again on the helm, however with the assistance of the legendary Benji Marshall, he’s within the course of of remodeling the Tigers’ assault to considerably emulate that premiership-winning season.
Quite a bit has occurred for the reason that pair lifted the trophy 17 years in the past.
Sheens relocated to the UK whereas the membership churned by means of 4 coaches — six for those who rely the interim coaches — and Marshall left, then returned, then left once more earlier than retiring.
There’s additionally solely been two finals appearances and the membership collected its first picket spoon.
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But the band is again collectively — Robbie Farah too — and so they’re already making their mark.
There’s been large personnel adjustments and now, as five-eighth Adam Doueihi informed foxsports.com.au the staff is about to play “a different brand of footy” too.
Doueihi referred to the ‘05 team’s “attack mentality” and revealed each participant has been “doing 200 passes every day” throughout pre-season to make sure they’re prepared for Sheens’ recreation plan.
But this isn’t only a copy and paste job in a determined bid to ship the membership’s first premiership in nearly twenty years. Sheens and Marshall are assured that the roster they’re constructing has the ability to execute the brand new model to their liking.
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BACK TO THE FUTURE
Last season the Tigers averaged simply 15 factors a recreation and conceded on common 28 factors a recreation.
The ‘05 premiership-winning side averaged 29 points a game but conceded 22 — essentially only one try less than the team that got the wooden spoon.
Sure, they’re two solely totally different groups that performed in numerous eras of the NRL nevertheless it’s clear assault was the bread and butter in ‘05, while it barely had a pulse in 2022. Defence was the area the Tigers were stronger in last season.
It seems the Tigers’ assault shall be resuscitated this season although with Doueihi declaring: “We’re not going to be scared to throw the ball around.
“But we have to earn the right to put our plays on,” he added.
Doueihi additionally gave an perception into simply how a lot work the enjoying group is doing in assault and why Sheens and Marshall are assured the brand new model will go well with the staff.
“Obviously with Tim, Benji and Robbie from the ‘05 team, they played a different brand of footy that year and scored more points than the opposition. They had an attack mentality and defence would go on the back of that so we’re sort of doing the same this year,” he mentioned.
“With our roster, Tim and Benji see it has players that can move the ball and like to throw the footy around.
“They’ve even got all our big boys and every player doing 200 passes every day we’re here and getting everyone up to scratch with the simple catch-pass drills and making sure everyone in the 17 can be confident to catch and pass the ball under pressure.
“There’s obviously different plays and shapes that us players haven’t seen before but the more we practice them the more we can see how it makes sense and how we can use it come game day.”
Halfback Luke Brooks has been on the Tigers his complete profession however was within the decrease grades final time Sheens was on the helm so didn’t get to expertise the veteran coach’s recreation plan.
But he can nonetheless recognise the similarities to what’s been constructing at Concord over the summer season.
“You just have to go back and watch how the Tigers used to play under ‘Sheensy’, he’s always been known for his attacking style of play,” Brooks informed foxsports.com.au.
“He hasn’t changed too much with that and I think that will suit the players in our side.
“We don’t want to be one of those teams that does five hit-ups through to a kick, we actually want to move the ball and play to our strengths.”
Doueihi is “excited to show the fans” the Tigers’ new model and which may be as a result of it “definitely” fits the way in which he likes to play.
“Me and Benji spoke thoroughly in the off-season about what sits me and my game,” he mentioned.
“I’ve come from a tough footy background as well and have applied some touch footy plays that can relate to rugby league. Whether it be a four vs three scenario or three vs two, just how he wants me to run it, we’ve found plays that suit me, ‘Brooksy’ and ‘Dainey’ (Daine Laurie) where it gets us running and using our passing game.”
Laurie is simply as eager on the brand new model.
“It’s kind of off-the-cuff footy and taking opportunities when they’re presented. It’s 100 per cent my style, just playing flat and fast to try and get the opposition on the back foot,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, marquee recruit Api Koroisau informed foxsports.com.au: “I think everyone knows how ‘Sheensy’ likes to coach so I think it’s one of those eyes-up footy sort of styles which is really good because it suits my game.”
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THE BENJI FACTOR
Marshall will spend the following two seasons as Sheens’ assistant earlier than taking on as head coach in 2025.
The membership legend has completely immersed himself within the position. In reality when it was introduced final July, he resigned from his high-profile media commitments — together with being an skilled analyst on Fox League — to get a head begin on the work that must be accomplished on the Tigers.
So it shouldn’t come as a shock that he’s been very hands-on all through pre-season.
But except for his teaching duties, simply Marshall’s presence alone is having an amazing impression on the gamers.
“It’s pretty cool,” Doueihi mentioned about Marshall’s involvement.
“Even when me or ‘Brooksy’ can’t do a drill he jumps in and the way he can still pass the ball and the vision he has that other players can’t see is quite incredible — he’s still getting try assists and tries at training so he’s definitely still got it.
“To work with him every day, personally I try and pick his brain and he’s always so positive about me and my game.
“He’s someone I can lean on during the season, he’s done everything in the game so I’m sort of just absorbing it all in.
“He is (one of the boys) a bit but there’s obviously that difference with him being on the coaching staff now.
“Playing with him and having spoken to people that have played with him, everyone has a lot of respect for him. Everything he’s done on and off the field, he’s kept a good name.
“He’s one of the boys but his coaching hat is still on and if he has to pull us up on something he definitely does, but he knows how to have a fun time.
“When it comes to the field work he’s very positive and very smart with the way he talks and sees the game — everyone is all ears when he speaks.”
Marshall and Sheens shared a father-son relationship again after they labored collectively as participant and coach on the Tigers.
It’s very totally different this time spherical however they appear to be a match made in heaven to this point with Alex Twal telling foxsports.com.au his seventh pre-season with the membership has been “refreshing” due to them.
“There’s a lot to look forward to. I just love their approach, they both have such different approaches to what I’ve been used to and I think it’s really refreshing,” Twal mentioned.
“You come to training with a bit of a spring in your step because they both have knack for making training enjoyable.
“Having been here for a while, to be come in here and be so excited to train is such a good feeling — it’s so refreshing. Especially off the back of last year, they’ve done such a tremendous job this pre-season and everyone is buying in.
“There’s a lot of young faces and with that comes energy.”
Twal additionally defined that the duo “have a real attack focus” however burdened “that doesn’t mean we don’t pride ourselves in defence.”
He added: “There’s been a lot of backing yourself and making sure we work together.”
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NEW RECRUITS
There’s a number of new faces on the Tigers that may assist deliver Sheens’ plans to life together with three-time premiership-winning hooker Koroisau.
Brooks is especially enthusiastic about Koroisau’s addition to the 17 given his craftiness out of dummy-half will ease the load on him at halfback.
“You can already tell he’s made a massive difference to our side,” Brooks mentioned.
“What he does around the ruck helps me so much, it’ll take a lot of pressure off me because other teams’ defence will be focused on him and what he’s doing around the ruck.”
Koroisau is evident on his position at No.9 however performed it down when requested about what he can do for Brooks and Doueihi.
“I think anywhere I’ve played I’ve tried to help out (the halves)… But it’s not as big as what people think it is. It’s more just subtle things and trying to read the game myself so I can help out,” he mentioned.
Another participant that’s anticipated to make an enormous distinction to the Tigers this season is Isaiah Papali’i, who Laurie declared a “wrecking ball” that “adds a bit of flare to the edge.”
He’ll play exterior of Brooks.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with ‘Ice’, I think he’s someone that will suit my game,” Brooks mentioned.
“He’s a good hole-running back-rower, but also in defence he’s also a good quality player and you can really see that when we’re out on the field training.”
Add in English worldwide John Bateman and 19-time Kangaroo David Klemmer — who’s setting a excessive normal at coaching — and the Tigers have starpower they’ve been desperately lacking.
Koroisau is recent off back-to-back premierships with the Panthers and Papali’i acquired useful grand last expertise with the Eels final season.
Twal believes having these forms of gamers round will do wonders for the membership.
“To have them blokes on board this year, it gives the boys a lot of confidence going forward,” he mentioned.
“Not only that, just having their experience at training, they know what success looks like and they’ve been in the game for a while. It’s been really good to have more experienced heads to lean on.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
