What’s the Buzz: Tim Sheens’ secret email to NRL player agents

Tim Sheens has begun his task of rebuilding the Wests Tigers by reaching out to NRL player agents in search of new talent.

Tim Sheens has made contact with player agents.

From 17,000 kilometres away in the north of England, four-time premiership-winning coach Tim Sheens has begun the task of rebuilding the Wests Tigers by reaching out to more than 50 player agents across the NRL.

The Sunday Telegraph has obtained an email Sheens sent from where he is based in Manchester, asking the managers last week for a list of their best players coming off contract.

The emails says: “As you may be aware I’m heading back to Wests Tigers as the Head of Football Performance.

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“Part of my role includes supporting the head coach and the GM with recruitment so I would appreciate it if you could please email me a copy of your current lists.

“I’m not back in Sydney as yet due to the Australian Covid restrictions but look forward to catching up when I get back.”

Tim Sheens has plenty of work to do as the Wests Tigers’ head of football performance.

This is huge news for long-suffering Wests Tigers fans who have painfully watched many of the biggest names on the rugby league open market continually reject overtures from their club.

The likes of Latrell Mitchell, Tevita Pangai Junior, Josh Addo-Carr, Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Matt Moylan and Joseph Suaalii have all turned down coach Michael Maguire and his recruitment staff.

Your columnist spoke to Sheens, who coached the club to the 2005 NRL premiership, on Friday about his new job.

Not wanting to tread on toes, he declined an interview until he was back in Sydney, out of quarantine and working out of the club’s Concord offices.

He is hoping to be back before the grand final to start working alongside Maguire and Brett Kimmorley to develop strategies on junior development and capturing the best young footballers out of the huge Campbelltown nursery.

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Tim Sheens’ secret email to NRL player agents