Tim Sheens is a lot like Ricky Stuart. Both were terrific in their heyday, both had brilliant starts to their coaching career, yet both are dramatically overrated in terms of their current coaching ability.
Although suggesting the incumbent Australia coach should be sacked after leading his side to a 20-point trouncing of the current world champions may sound a little harsh, let me explain my rationale for making such a sensationalist headline:
• The Kangaroos came very close to losing on Friday night. Although the final scoreline does not reflect this, the Kiwis were right in this match up until the 50th minute mark. Barring a controversial video-referee decision, the Kangaroos might have lost Friday night’s match.
• The Kiwis were missing a heap of talent. Benji Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams, Greg Eastwood, Manu Vatuvei, Sam Kasiano, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith and Krisnan Inu were all missing from the Kiwis on Friday. Australia was full-strength… that is as good as Australia gets, player-wise.
• Sheens has already said that he thinks that bulk of this team will be there at the next World Cup. While I agree it was sensational looking team, there is still room for improvement and with five months of footy remaining, no-one should be considered ‘safe’ in my opinion. This reeks of a coach that is insecure and resistant to change.
• Finally, and this is the most important reason why Sheens should be replaced, there is a whole host of better NRL coaches waiting in the wings, none more so than Craig Bellamy.
Where the Kangaroos looked most vulnerable was their failure to dominate the ruck and speed of the play-the-ball.
This is an area of the game that Bellamy has revolutionised in recent years.
I know there is some rule that says an NRL coach should not be the Australian Kangaroos coach, but that is nonsense.
You pick the best man for the job and that is most likely going to be an NRL coach that is involved at the highest levels of the game on a week-in, week-out basis.
I acknowledge that Sheens has now led Australia to its 14th straight win, but this is not enough in my opinion. Mal Meninga has led the Queensland Maroons to seven straight series wins, but I don’t see NRL clubs knocking down his door for head-coaching positions.
This is because people realise that some teams are so talented that they can win despite the prowess (or lack of) of their coach.
Tim Sheens was an amazing coach in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He had a renaissance back in the mid 2000s, when he reintroduced free-flowing footy and mobile forward packs with the premiership-winning Tigers.
But since 2006 his record is not good enough to have the most important coaching job in Australia.
Any Australian rugby league fan should have the date of 22 November 2008 etched in their memory.
That was the day that the Kiwis came to Suncorp Stadium and won the Rugby League World Cup. The era of the Kangaroos picking incumbents because they could afford to not pick in-form players is well and truly over.
The same realisation should have taken place in terms of selecting the Kangaroos coach.
Of course I do not think Sheens will be dropped. Dropping someone in Australian sport requires a crisis and there is certainly a sense of “she’ll be right, mate” in Australian Kangaroos circles. It reminds me very much of the attitude in late 2008…
So if the Kiwis defend their World Cup in 2013, then expect one all mighty “I told you so!” by furious people like myself, who will reluctantly be backing the Kiwis at the insane odds being offered by bookmakers.
Tom
Guest
Hi, I agree with you about a new coach. Although I'm not familiar with sheen's coaching career, it is obvious that we'll pay the price if he decides to not pick in form-players for the cup. Like you said, we just can't get away with it anymore with NZ becoming stronger and England (as seen last year) proving themselves modern threats.. So if sheens plays it safe, picking the same team I fear also that we'll blow it again. There is already proof that experience sides aren't always best in this years Origin Game 1. QLD picked the super experienced team that had won 7 consecutive years in a row against NSW but it included some mediocre players of the time, two in particular (shillo and harrison.) As such we dominated them that game due to our in top performing team (with many new players who were ready to debut and some who moved positions.) Luckily due to the structure of origin, they were able to make up for it during the next few games by dropping those players and bringing foward the form players. In the world cup we won't be gifted with that luxury. Sure we can make probably make it to the final with the same team but if we meet NZ on the field in that final with their team full of players who are peaking at their game we'll lose and there won't be a chance to prove ourselves again for 4 years. Unfortunately it's probably too late to introduce a new coach now before the world cup if we want the players to feel comfortable (although this is arguable), but it will be obvious if sheens is the right man for the job depending solely on the team he picks for the later stages of the cup. Due to injuries and the lack luster performance of some test stars among the flourishing players in the same competition, there are certain decisions sheens is going to make that will decide our fate in the cup and his in terms of future in league coaching These include the possible introduction of Corey Parker and Andrew Fifita- two of the best forwards in the competition currently, the picking of Michael Jennings over Josh Morris in that centre spot (Jennings' form v JM's experience) and the reinvestment of cherry-evans on the bench (but only if sheens bloody uses him this time! he's is the future of our halve combination, get him in now!) Anyway I am aware that you wrote this article before origin and whatnot but I just wanted to see if your views had changed over since you created it.
PuntPal
Roar Pro
I agree with the team that was picked Renegade, I would pick the same team (bar 2 changes)...the ones I outlined above (i.e. Cherry-Evans needed to be there in front of Gidley and Boyd is a fullback, who is struggling for form...crazy if he is guaranteed a wing spot for Australia! A whole host of wingers should have been in front of him (Taufua, Merritt) 5 months is a long time...I am willing to bet a lot of players will be in line for selection that we are currenctly not considering. Raiders had no reps playing (my team)...if they steam home on the back of Campese, Ferguson and Wighton exploding towards the end of the year, are they honestly not worth considering because they havent been there before? And I dont think we should wait and see if we win the world cup before judging him...if we lose this world cup, it will be our longest run of not winning the world cup for decades...the Kiwis will be champions from 2008 - 2018!! A national disgrace...the stakes are high
Renegade
Guest
I understand what you are stating here but I don't necessarily agree. Sheens had a target of winning the four nations and the world cup, we hold one of the those and the world cup is this year which he as been planning towards for some time now. We can judge him after the World Cup. In all honesty though, I can't see how anyone could pick a different side than the one last Friday....I would certainly pick the same 17 come world cup time bar 1 or 2 changes.
Angry Bird
Guest
Ha.. I did say that players in the current squad needed to be Fit and in Form to gain selection. What i am saying is that they are proven big game performers and unless they are playing poorly or are injured why would you change a team that is winning? Jorge Tafua, Akuila Uate dont match boyd for big game experience nor does cherry evans have comparable experience to gidley. So they have to be putting in man of the match performances on a regular basis to push a fit and in form incumbent out of the team. And you should have realized i dont give a toss about cricket...
Ra
Guest
It would be nice if the Aussies go to the RLWC 2015 with this line up. At least we know what we're up against. Nice and predictable.
redbur95
Roar Rookie
Sheens has more or less said that he will retire as Australian coach after the World Cup, regardless of the result. You would have to say that Craig Bellamy is next-in-line. Despite his poor record as NSW coach, he's still the best coach in the game, club and representative teams included. The main reason he failed as Blues coach was because he hated being in a team playing against Smith, Cronk and Slater. As Kangaroos coach, he'd be free to flex his coaching muscles to their full extent.
PuntPal
Roar Pro
hahaha, awesome comment...you are right, I hope!
PuntPal
Roar Pro
Thanks mate, and yeah I do love how the The Roar allows us idiots to make bold claims...sometimes you end up with egg on your face and other times you are vidicated...I honestly hope I end up humiliated by Kangaroos winning the World Cup final by 50! While I agree that being head coach of an NRL side is different to coaching a rep side, i dont agree the difference is so big that the Australian coach should never be an NRL coach. Coaching a footy side of the Kangaroos quality is not about the lead up speech, nor the bonding activities...there are others that do that. Being head coach of the Kangaroos is about strategy, reacting to the game, making the right bench moves etc... And I definetely dont agree that a player on fire should be overlooked for someone like Darius Boyd simply because they have always been there...under that logic, the team would never change?? The Australian cricket team used to have this approach and it cost them dearly. They kept blokes like Mike Hussey playing Sheffield Shield for years, when they were easily the best man for the baggy green. The Kiwis will be picking on form, so will the Poms...we dont have the luxury of leaving out th ebest players or the best coach...we should have learnt that from 2008
Why would you watch Cricket?
Guest
Mate good article.... well sort of anyway, you made some crazy comments along the way and that is what makes the ROAR such a great site, because to put it simply you are allowed to make totally misguided and uneducated comments and post them online, cool huh? To make my thoughts short and sweet I have to say that Bellamy has about as much chance of getting the Kangeroos GIG as Meninga has of getting the head coaching GIG at the Storm. thats no disrespect either, it just highlights that Rep footy and Club footy are very very different animals. The Kangeroos Team is built on Experience and Loyalty so if Friday nights team is Fit and in Form come October I simply dont care how 'Hot' any other player is, they might deserve a 'run' in the squad but I wouldnt be in a hurry to make many changes to the '17' either. Sheensey has the squad 'Firing' and for now that is good enough for me. Peace out
The eye
Guest
In all probability Cameron,JT and Billy run the Test team just as they run their state side..Sheeks and Mal take care of the drinks and the press.
maximillian
Guest
there is only a 4day prep for Anzac tests so existing combinations are more important in these 1 off matches. This is where Australia has an advantage in the fact that their cucial positions of 1,6,7 & 9 are built around the QLD Origin team that have played together alot. NZ has no such combinations & need time to build them, that is why they excel more in a tounament style format as opposed to 1 off tests. Id like to see a Kiwi Origin run simultaneously with the Aussie SOO so the Kiwis can build more combinations & depth for the good of the international game & to make the Anzac Tests more competitve. I still think the Kiwis are going to be massive at the world cup & I think they will win it.
PuntPal
Roar Pro
A few points Jim 1) I never said that the Kangaroo side should be changed, I was very clear that (at present) that was the best team we could pick...its precisely why we should have won with more ease. But in 5 months time, maybe Brett Morris and Darius Boyd are being outplayed by Akuila Uate and Jorge Tafua...maybe Cherry-Evans is playing all over Gidley, maybe Matt Scott and Anthony Watmough are being out played by Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham / Ryan Hincliffee...To me, Sheens saying the team will be the same was his way of locking himself as the coach (i.e.. Dont change anything, please!) 2) I dont agree that SBW was the only big player the Kiwis had missing. Benji was part of the sides that beat Australia in the last World Cup and in recent Tri-Nations debacles. He is having a poor year by his standards, but to suggest he wont be the number 6 is wrong and shows you have a personal bias. Simon Mannering is also a player that can already book his ticket. He is the Captain of NZ for heaven's sake! Eastwood has been huge in 2013 and has always performed well for NZ....Kasiano, Inu and Smith will also all be there in November...you are greatly mistaken to say that NZ were not missing a ton of talent. My NZ World Cup side would be (at present): Hoffman Nightingale Kenny-Dowall Inu Vatuvei Marshall Johnson Kasiano Luke Matulino SBW Pritchard Mannering BENCH McKendry Foran Eastwood Glenn 3) I hope the Aussies win the World Cup, I am going to be there with my Kangaroos jersey on cheering my a$$ off, but I am very worried that Sheeks will not have the team playing their best footy possible, the way Bellamy has the Storm playing their best footy...week in, week out!
PuntPal
Roar Pro
We always have it over the Poms, but the Kiwis in the matches that matter (World Cup, 4 Nations etc...) have probably had it over us in the recent past. To be honest, the Anzac Test is a nice hit out and important from a national-pride sense...but we could win the next 5 ANZAC Tests and it will be for nothing if we lose the World Cup. Its like winning the Minor Premiership and then losing the Grand Final...it sucks!
PuntPal
Roar Pro
I agree maximillian that it would be a tough ask to step up now and take over before world cup, but I think sometimes we overstate the abillity of a team liek the Kangaroos to adapt. The big 3 from Storm certainly wouldnt have issues...and what exactly will Sheens be doing from now until October? Watching games and assessing players? Watching Superleague to see what the UK lads are doing? I reckon most NRL coaches do that anyway as part of their job...and come October, the squad would have a few weeks to get the new game plan into their head, then a few warm up games against the minnows to hone their skills. Like I said, it wont happen...but hopefully this doesnt cost us back-to-back world cups!
PuntPal
Roar Pro
Yeah peeeko, I agree it is very hard to judge from the outside. The Kangaroos have performed under Sheens and part of me says if it aint broke down fit it...but then like I said, I am still scarred from 2008 and I think that we are a lot more vulnerable to a repeat of that in UK this year. I also agree with your assessment of Bennett.- his ability to win competitions at Broncos with the entire QLD line up had me questioning hsi ability, but his ability to turn around the Dragons was very impressive. I think there should nearly be a system where the Premiershiip coach gets the job for the Aussies (if they want it)...as an extra reward for winning the comp. In recent years our coaches would have be Bellamy, Hassler, Bennett etc...Although this has the draw back of not having continuity. But I dont think the current system has any rhyme or reason, and therefore lends itself to poor decisions
Sideline Commentator
Guest
Nah, it should be Phil Gould. (Hehe)
Jim
Guest
I find it difficult to give this article any credibility at all. To suggest that NZ were a video decision away from winning this game is laughable. The Kiwis' effort was outstanding yes, but the scoreline aacurately reflected the two teams' efforts and ability. The Kiwis gave their all for 50 minutes, the Australians withstood it and fired back with 3 tries in 11 minutes. That about sums it up. Secondly, only SBW adds any real grunt ot the Kiwis - the others you mentioned are good footballers, but to suggest that they would have made the ultimate difference against the Australian side is questionable at best. Yes, even Benji, whose lateral playing style is easy pickings. Foran offers more with his direct play Thirdly, Sheens is correct in saying that most of that squad should be at the World Cup. Its not arrogance, its reality! They are the best Australian players in the NRL. Even if you were to name another player currently playing in the NRL to take the place of one of these guys they will probably be in the squad anyway. Thank God you are not a selector! And lastly, if you knew anything about coaching a representative side vs a club side, you will know that Club coaches do not always align with being hte best rep coach. Bellamy is the prime example with NSW. Different approaches are needed in rep coaching, as preparation times are less, combinations need to be honed over a shorter period. Picking players with existing combinations are important for continuity. To suggest that there are better Coaches in the NRL who should be there is ludicrous in a World Cup year. In order to win the World Cup the Australians need a Coach who is not aligned with a Club, has time to prepare, watch games, do homework on opposition, research conditions etc. Not someone who is more worried about what his bench is going to look like next week against the Bunnies! I look forward to hearing your retraction around November this year than you very much!
turbodewd
Guest
Punt, I disagree strongly. The Aussies always have it over the Kiwis, its only when we get slack do we lose. the Kiwis havent won the ANZAC Test since 1998! You could put Laurie Daley in charge of the Kangaroos and they'd still win!
maximillian
Guest
If they were going to sack Sheens they shouldve done it earlier. Bellamy is a great coach but it will be a tough ask to essentially come in & reinvent Australias style with almost no warmup games before the world cup. They have to at least build on the momentum & combinations they have now & change the coach after the Kiwis beat them in the final ;)
oikee
Guest
Sheens is see-through, this is why the Tigers lost the plot. His simple plan is for the forwards to bully the other team for 20 minutes and then they should be softened up enough, much like Ricky tried in origin game 2 last year. When Queensland had there chance to bully them back, they did, series over. Queensland won again and now are ready for bully tactics. The kiwis will be ready for Sheens next time, probabl;y in England where a hostile crowd who cant stand a bar of Australia's dirty tactics will turn on them and give them a pasting all the while supporting anyone against our lads. This is the legacy Sheens is building, and it looks awful. He should resign, or better still, the cNew NRL should sack him. Big Mal should be coach. :)