ID :
143554
Sat, 09/25/2010 - 14:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/143554
The shortlink copeid
Sheens channels '05 spirit
(AAP) - It may not be the emotional wave of 2005, but Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens is doing all he can to channel the energy from one of the greatest finals upsets of all-time ahead of Saturday night's preliminary final rematch with St George Illawarra.
While much has changed in the five years since the Tigers bundled the Dragons out of
the 2005 premiership race, one thing is all too familiar - the Tigers' underdog
status.
"We'd already over-achieved once we made the top four let alone the semis so
everything was devil may care," Sheens said of the Cinderella run.
"We didn't care if we won or lost. We just turned up - if we were going to have a
drink on the Monday, we were going to have a drink on the Monday and we just kept
pushing those Mondays back."
But while Sheens admits the stakes may be higher this time around, he admits the
perception of his side hasn't altered too much with the Dragons again heavy
favourites.
"A lot of people didn't rate us that we'd get there (in 2005) nor that we'd get this
far (this year)," he said.
"So we've still got a little bit of what was there in 05."
But that's it as far as Sheens is concerned, the veteran coach adamant there was no
mental advantage for his side heading into another game against the Dragons.
"I don't think you really draw on that," he said.
"It's really what we're doing at the moment rather than what we're doing five years
ago,.
"But the fact it was five years ago, the only benefit there of course is that
they've had 100 games since then.
"So that's the experience that you've gained and the team's got a lot more
experience on that basis."
The win back in 2005 came in the midst of a purple patch of form for the Tigers in
matches against the Dragons, when they won six of seven over a four-year period.
The Dragons have won the past two contests, including a 34-10 thumping at WIN
Jubilee Oval in round 16 this year when the red and whites ran away with the game
late.
"They scored just before halftime, in the last minute of the half and two tries in
the last three minutes so it was 18 points there," Sheens said.
"If you look at that in the scoreline, that's something they just persevered and
persevered and we just shut down.
"(We) just lacked that little bit of concentration so they're the things you've got
to concentrate on for 80. I expect in a semi-final to do a lot more of that than we
did at Kogarah."
The Tigers held a closed session at ANZ Stadium on Friday, with doubt still
surrounding whether John Skandalis or Andrew Fifita would take injured prop Todd
Payten's spot in the squad.
While much has changed in the five years since the Tigers bundled the Dragons out of
the 2005 premiership race, one thing is all too familiar - the Tigers' underdog
status.
"We'd already over-achieved once we made the top four let alone the semis so
everything was devil may care," Sheens said of the Cinderella run.
"We didn't care if we won or lost. We just turned up - if we were going to have a
drink on the Monday, we were going to have a drink on the Monday and we just kept
pushing those Mondays back."
But while Sheens admits the stakes may be higher this time around, he admits the
perception of his side hasn't altered too much with the Dragons again heavy
favourites.
"A lot of people didn't rate us that we'd get there (in 2005) nor that we'd get this
far (this year)," he said.
"So we've still got a little bit of what was there in 05."
But that's it as far as Sheens is concerned, the veteran coach adamant there was no
mental advantage for his side heading into another game against the Dragons.
"I don't think you really draw on that," he said.
"It's really what we're doing at the moment rather than what we're doing five years
ago,.
"But the fact it was five years ago, the only benefit there of course is that
they've had 100 games since then.
"So that's the experience that you've gained and the team's got a lot more
experience on that basis."
The win back in 2005 came in the midst of a purple patch of form for the Tigers in
matches against the Dragons, when they won six of seven over a four-year period.
The Dragons have won the past two contests, including a 34-10 thumping at WIN
Jubilee Oval in round 16 this year when the red and whites ran away with the game
late.
"They scored just before halftime, in the last minute of the half and two tries in
the last three minutes so it was 18 points there," Sheens said.
"If you look at that in the scoreline, that's something they just persevered and
persevered and we just shut down.
"(We) just lacked that little bit of concentration so they're the things you've got
to concentrate on for 80. I expect in a semi-final to do a lot more of that than we
did at Kogarah."
The Tigers held a closed session at ANZ Stadium on Friday, with doubt still
surrounding whether John Skandalis or Andrew Fifita would take injured prop Todd
Payten's spot in the squad.
