The glimmer of ‘hope’ for Sheens’ Tigers as Benji’s coaching education begins

Eagle-eyed viewers have picked up a telling detail in an image of the Wests Tigers’ coaching box - sparking a big question about the team’s leadership.

Benji Marshall backing orders in the coaching box.

The Tigers have finally given their fans “a little bit of hope” with a gutsy performance to come within six points of last year’s grand finalists - however an image from the coaching box during the game has sparked some intrigue amongst pundits.

Tim Sheens’ side mounted a second half charge, led by Apisai Koroisau, scoring three second half tries to bring the score to 22-20 at Accor Stadium on Easter Monday.

Despite losing, NRL360 co-host Paul Kent praised Sheens’ new approach and made a big observation surrounding the club’s coaching structure.

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During the Easter Monday clash, assistant Benji Marshall donned the headset and was barking orders while Sheens sat at the back of the coaching box in a sign of things to come.

Although cameras only picked up a few brief moments of the Tigers coaches in action, it appeared Sheens was sitting back as his assistant coaches, Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall and former Raiders coach David Furner, ran the show.

Amid rumours of a rift in the coaching setup, Sheens told the SMH on Saturday he wouldn’t stand down from his position early, with Marshall signed on as head coach in 2025.

“I think Tim Sheens is sitting back and essentially just managing things,” Kent said on NRL360 on Monday night.

Tim Sheens sits back as Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner run the show. Pic: Fox League

“He’s come in under this idea he has to educate these young guys to eventually succeed him as head coach and I don’t see anything wrong with him at different points just handing over and letting them have a little bit of control

“When Tim Sheens was at the Raiders he would call in players such as Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga and get them to help him with the game plan for that week.

“He wanted input from them about what they are seeing and how they think they could beat whoever they were playing that week.

“And you just have to look at the players who have since come out of his system who have been good head coaches.

“He does put a lot of trust in those around him. He did it when he was back at the Raiders and now he’s doing it at the Tigers with his assistant coaches.

“The other person in the Tigers box is David Furner, his contribution would be significant and what Furner says would be significant and Sheensy, who coached him as a player, would have a lot of trust about him.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield also believes if the Tigers produced their Round 6 display earlier in the season, they would have won at least one game.

The Tigers fought hard against the Eels. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Sheens’ side currently sit 0-6, going down in three games considered “winnable” for last year’s wooden spooners.

“I was really happy for the Tigers to give their fans a little bit of hope, they way they competed at least,” Rothfield said.

“You look back at their draw to start, and if they’d played the way they did today against the Titans, the Knights and the Bulldogs, three games that were winnable, they’d be in a much better position on the ladder.”

However, now the Tigers face an uphill battle with a tough draw ahead after the bye in Round 7.

The merger club face Manly, Penrith, St George Illawarra and the Rabbitohs in their next four games which could see them fail to win before the Origin period.

However, Kent believes fans can be happy with the performance their side delivered against the Eels.

“A lot of Tigers fans will walk away from today, happy as if they’d had a win, because they can see a bit if life back in their team,” Kent said.

“At least they are trying in all facets of the game now, tonight they had a dig.

“And you have got to walk away tonight as a Tigers fan and think at least we are in the fight.”

Originally published as The glimmer of ‘hope’ for Sheens’ Tigers as Benji’s coaching education begins