Sheens: We're improving
03/09/2009 1:36 PM
Steve Orme
Despite failing to make the NRL finals for a fourth straight year, Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has declared 2009 a significant step forward for the joint-venture club.
The Tigers will seal ninth spot with a win over competition leaders the Bulldogs at the SFS on Friday night, but could plummet as low as 12th position with a loss.
It's been slim pickings for Sheens' men who have not finished higher than ninth since winning it all in 2005, but the veteran coach is adamant they are a team on the rise.
"It's a disappointment but at the end of the day there's lots of reasons for that but no excuses," Sheens said of his side's failure to qualify for the post-season.
"I'm not here to talk about the last four seasons, I mean there are plenty of sides that were in the eight last year who are running second last this year and a lot further behind us."
"Our consistency has been there for the last four years, we haven't turned it up, we've played some good football.
While reluctant to make excuses, Sheens pointed to the club's heavy injury toll.
"We have had some issues and even losing people out of the last three weeks - key people for the rest of the season - hasn't helped our case," he said.
"I don't think too many sides could lose one of their starting front rows, two wingers and a full-back, all in the space of two weeks and have it not affect their side."
"Again they're just reasons, we're not whinging and our attitude is to come out this week and with what I've got we're going to play and do our best to win the game of footy."
"So I think again, this season in isolation to the last three has been a much stronger season and, with our kids (Toyota Cup team) in the top four as well we've got a lot to look forward to in the next season."
Although still coming to terms with another campaign without finals footy, Tigers captain Robbie Farah echoed his coach's sentiments.
"Even though this season hasn't gone the way we would have liked I'm really optimistic about next year," he said.
"If you'd asked me that the last few years I think not making the semis was really disappointing but this year I can see the progress that we've made."
"And next year I'm pretty confident that we're going to be a different footy team. I know we keep saying that, 'next year, next year,' but I can really see a change in the right direction and already I can't wait for next year."
