Tigers coach Tim Sheens has bizarrely refused to clarify his determination to axe winger David Nofoaluma and make wholesale modifications to his backbone.
The merger membership made a late comeback towards the Bulldogs, however went down 26-22 to start out the 2023 season with three losses below the brand new teaching trio of Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
In the 51st minute, trailing by 20-6, Nofoaluma was pulled from the sphere, with Adam Doueihi shifting to fullback and Brandon Wakeham into the halves.
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The transfer paid dividends with Wakeham having a hand in two of the Tigers’ three late tries, nonetheless Sheens was in no temper to speak about his determination.
“No, I don’t want to make any call on it,” Sheens mentioned when initially requested concerning the reshuffle.
Another journalist then pressed the 72-year-old once more, asking whether or not the shift was deliberate or a tactical determination.
“I don’t want to talk about it, I am not going to justify what I did,” Sheens replied.
The skilled coach was then requested if he was impressed with Wakeham’s 29-minute show.
The 24-year-old former Bulldogs playmaker recorded a attempt help, a line break and a line break help, proving to be a optimistic injection off the bench.
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Sheens lastly defined his considering behind the stunning swap, and the transfer merely got here all the way down to what occurred throughout coaching.
Adam Doueihi watched on from the sidelines till the captain’s run as a result of bone bruising, hampering his reference to halfback Luke Brooks.
“We had practised that all week, that was the thing, Adam didn’t train all week except the captain’s run yesterday,” Sheens mentioned.
“It was always looking better with the two boys who played together, it wasn’t working for us so I pushed Adam back there.
“And although I’m not saying he was the superstar, but he settled us down a little bit at the back there and he dominates the call, so he might get a bit more time there.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
