Fittler: We can still make finals
Article from:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22219278-5006066,00.html
By Dean Ritchie and Steve Mascord
August 10, 2007 12:00am
UNBEATEN in four matches and fearing no one, Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler last night refused to concede his side was a semi-final casualty.
The Roosters remain three points outside the top eight and must beat Wests Tigers tonight at Homebush to continue harbouring any hopes of a late surge to the playoffs.
Fresh from their epic 31-all draw with New Zealand last Sunday, Fittler is desperately hoping tonight to extend his undefeated four-match winning streak as Roosters coach.
"From my point of view, if we win all our games we make the semi-finals," Fittler said.
"But if we start to think too far ahead and drop a match, it's pretty much gone.
"We can only take it one week at a time because we have to win every match.
"We don't have the luxury of winning four from six and still making the finals."
Tonight will be Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens' 541st first-grade match as a coach - Fittler's fifth.
But Fittler is unconcerned.
"I haven't thought about it," Fittler said. "I haven't been here long enough to worry about that stuff.
"All my time so far has been dedicated to the Roosters. But Wests Tigers are a big danger. They play for each other and that alone makes them a very dangerous football side."
Tigers coach Tim Sheens last night claimed to have received "support" from referees boss Robert Finch at a private summit held earlier in the day.
After saying last week his team had an ongoing problem with whistler Steve Clark, Sheens told
The Daily Telegraph he had so many issues that he decided to meet Finch in person.
"I got plenty of support from him - that's all I'd say," Sheens said. "I discussed a lot of issues. That's the only reason I went in - because there were a lot of issues."
Asked if he had any plans to meet Clark, Sheens said: "I don't meet them."
He said: "It's got nothing to do with him. It's about what he's going to do in relation to things.
"It's nothing to do with influencing the game. All I was asking was some clarification and, as I say, I got support from Robert Finch on most issues."
Finch said: "It was more like a cup of tea and a chat than anything else."
"There wasn't that much in it at all.
"There were a few things we didn't agree on, there were a few where his points were fine."
Asked did Sheens meeting Finch bother him, Fittler said: "No. The referees are out there doing their best."