The first time the Wests Tigers brought Tim Sheens in to rescue them, they won a premiership within three years in one of the most amazing turnarounds in premiership history.
This time around, if he can just get them back into the finals in that timeframe it will be an extraordinary achievement.
Sheens took the coaching reins of the Wests Tigers in 2003 and after a middling start in which they finished 13th and ninth in his first two years in charge, they surged to the premiership in one of the most remarkable late-season runs of all time.
After an acrimonious split when he was sacked nearly a decade ago, he was last June appointed to become their head of football performance but travel restrictions meant he did not get his feet under his desk in Concord until November.
Sheens has backed coach Michael Maguire, who survived a dreaded end-of-season review last season, to turn the team’s fortunes around.
And boy is there a lot to fix. Since Maguire took over from Ivan Cleary when he left for the Panthers in controversial fashion three years ago, the Tigers’ results have gone backwards from their sixth ever ninth-placed finish in 2019, to 11th the following year and 13th last season.
Their roster was devoid of top-line talent with Joe Ofahengaue, who was used off the bench in Origin I, their only player chosen in the series.
They were behind the eight-ball from the get-go with just one win coming in the first nine rounds and apart from a win over an Origin-depleted Panthers team, they upset Newcastle twice and their other five victories were over fellow also-rans St George Illawarra, North Queensland (twice), the Bulldogs and Brisbane.
When they were flogged 38-0 in the final round by wooden spooners Canterbury, Maguire’s tenure looked as good as over but eventually, the board announced he would return for 2022.
However, with five-eighth Adam Doueihi, centre Tommy Talau and second-rower Shawn Blore sidelined long term with knee injuries, Maguire’s hopes of a quick turnaround look forlorn.
The Tigers’ problems stem from their toothless defence. Conceding 29.8 points per game is usually enough to easily be the worst in the NRL but last year they were fortunate the Cowboys were even more inept at 31.2.
North Queensland also saved from being the worst for tries conceded (5.3) and line breaks allowed (6.5).
No team wants to be known as soft but it’s hard to describe the Tigers’ defensive effort in any other way – they let in more tries (22) from six-again calls than any other team.
That’s the kind of tackling stat which is impossible to defend.
Curiously, they ranked equal-fourth for most missed tackles at 32.8 but were actually the top-ranked team for preventing offloads at 8.6.
With Doueihi, Talau and Blore sidelined, they are already depleted before a ball is kicked in 2022.
Jackson Hastings will bring tenacity at five-eighth, English import Oliver Gildart should provide a boost in the centres while former Titans utility Tyrone Peachey can add panache to their back row.
Apart from that, the team is much the same as last year so Maguire, with a dash of Mr Sheens’ polish, has to get more out of his go-to guys in halfback Luke Brooks and second-rower Luciano Leilua while continuing to develop young prospects like prop Stefano Utoikamanu and fullback Daine Laurie for the Tigers to have any chance of again finishing among the also-rans.
Malo
Guest
They really needed Douhei, but the time he comes back from injury the season will be over. Bottom 4.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Can't argue with any of that Paul. But I do think there are a handful of individuals whose defence is not up to standard. Doueihi and Nofaluma stand out in this area - both handy attacking players, but woeful defenders. Joey Leilua also caused too many unnecessary tries and line breaks by rushing out of the line and getting no one - so his departure will be a positive. Hastings and Peachey will definitely help in this area. I don't know enough about Gildart to make a call on him, but it's hard to imagine him being as unreliable as Leilua. Hopefully the Tigers have benefitted from having Cayless around and have been putting in serious time in the pre-season on sorting out their defence.
Adam
Roar Guru
I always thought they were the Magpers?
Albo
Roar Rookie
I just don't think they have the cattle as yet, unless there are some good youngsters being hidden away ? Out of their current 30 , I'd probably want to keep Daine Laurie, Stefano Utoikamanu & Luciano Leilua ( and he is off to the Cows next year ? ) The rest I couldn't get too excited about . The pack is ordinary, the halves can't control a game, the 9 shows glimpses but can't seem to see out a full season, and the backs, apart from Laurie offer nothing to scare opposition sides. There are hopes that Gildart might provide something but I haven't seen him do much even with a Super League top club like Wigan ? And Hastings is the other hopeful , but I suspect he will enough trouble just trying to combine with Brooks let alone lead the team around the park ?
Rob
Guest
Agree Paul. They won't be challenging for the premiership anytime soon but there is definitely enough talent in that squad to finish around 7th-10th. All comes down to the attitude throughout the squad IMO.
Malo
Guest
Yeah what’s Sheens role. Just to fire Maguire
Paul
Roar Guru
The issue for the Tigers is all about attitude. Why did they nearly make the finals in 2019, despite having only an ordinary squad? They played to a plan and they played with the right attitude. Sure they were never going to beat the top sides, but they were neve going to roll over and play dead, as they've done far too often in the past two years. Way too often when I watched them, especially last season, once they got behind, they appeared to give up. Forget about Tim Sheens the ex-coach and think about Tim Sheens the support to Maguire to improve their mental approach. If the players can really lift in the resilience department, they might not win the premiership, but they're not going to win the wooden spoon either.
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
I'd like to see the Tigpies go well, but it's hard to see it happening this year. Sheens was once a good coach with a reputation as a decent man manager, but I fail to see how he can improve things in the new role. If it comes down to the coach and players, well they're pretty much the same as last year so where is the improvement coming from? Peachey for Mbye? Hastings for Douehi? Doesn't give me any confidence.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Sheens will be asset to them, but those fruits are 2 years away. He isn't involved in the day to day coaching, but processes and structures of the football side of the club I agree, jury is out on Hastings
Max power
Guest
Not sure why there is such enthusiasm for Sheens. He was finished 10 years ago I wouldn’t be confident with Hastings either
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Chooks tapped Hastings and Flannagan on the shoulder without much fuss in the past and I read where Hastings says he believes the club was too hasty with both players. He then admitted that the club has done well despite this. Good halves are very hard to find now and Hastings has the chance to prove his value. It will be some feat for both of these players to show the Chooks made some sort of mistake. Things could go very pear-shaped very quickly at the Tigers this season if they don't watch it and a big blow-up within two months is on the cards.
the outsider
Roar Rookie
I'd love to disagree but your article reads depressing accurate. The saying, "you cant make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" popped into my head. Fingers crossed for a miracle
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
"...for the Tigers to have any chance of again finishing among the also-rans." 9th place is too lofty an ambition these days.