Freddy's bold Sheens call after 'mashed potatoes' flogging

1 year ago 78

Blues manager Brad Fittler believes the Wests Tigers whitethorn request to revisit their coaching strategy aft a "mashed potatoes" show against the Cowboys connected Saturday night.

Six weeks aft inflicting a 66-18 decision connected the Cowboys astatine Leichhardt Oval, North Queensland made a 122-point turnaround to triumph 74-0 successful Townsville connected Saturday night.

Speaking connected Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Andrew Johns said the lack of Luke Brooks and Api Koroisau could explicate for immoderate nonaccomplishment successful performance, but Billy Slater the nine needed to "simplify" their crippled program erstwhile they're without their cardinal players.

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"Luke Brooks and Api Koroisau (are) cardinal players successful cardinal positions, and erstwhile they aren't there, you request to simplify your game, and physique your crippled astir effort and defence," Slater

Tim Sheens successful Townsville connected Saturday. (Getty)

But Fittler said simplifying their crippled went beyond on-field plans.

After Michael Maguire was sacked past season, the nine hired seasoned Tim Sheens backmost into the elder role, with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah successful adjunct roles with an oculus to them yet succeeding Sheens.

"You've got an experienced manager past the up-and-coming coach, Benji," helium said.

"I haven't been Tigers training, truthful can't archer who runs the amusement determination (but) possibly that could beryllium simplified.

"It's been a truly pugnacious twelvemonth for the Tigers. Their commencement was poor. Everyone had precocious hopes for them implicit the disconnected season.

"Benji hasn't fronted up to the media oregon hasn't had to talk for the squad astatine each which takes an atrocious batch of unit away. What it does bash is let him to deterioration immoderate of this, possibly travel up with immoderate answers and spot what the nine needs for the future.

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"He doesn't spell distant battled, you know, oregon from dealing with this season, particularly yesterday's game. That's been near to Tim Sheens.

"I deliberation it works successful that favour but it's not moving connected the field. What we've seen connected the tract is conscionable mashed potato.

"They're passing the shot coming retired of trouble, archetypal tackle, shift, shift, shift. It looks bully but they don't person the fundamentals to use pressure."

Fittler said the nine needed to fine-tune "everything .. from the manager each the mode down to what their tactics are, past evidently players".

The nine look acceptable to beryllium without Alex Twal adjacent play two, who's facing a one-week prohibition for a hep driblet tackle connected Luciano Leilua.

The Tigers are seemingly successful a two-horse contention with the Dragons for the woody spoon, with the 2 clubs presently lone divided connected points difference, nevertheless the Dragons inactive person a bye to come.

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