Sheens defends Koroisau captaincy call after mockery

1 year ago 73

Wests Tigers manager Tim Sheens has defended the determination to name Apisai Koroisau captain contempt his mockery of the nine during the Panthers' astir caller NRL rubric celebrations.

The Tigers deployed a five-captain exemplary for the 2022 play but person installed Koroisau arsenic skipper for the 2023 campaign, which the nine announced successful a connection connected Monday night.

The prized enlistee scored the relation adjacent though helium poked amusive astatine the embattled club's prospects of winning a premiership little than a period earlier arriving astatine Concord.

"This spot has been unthinkable the past 3 years I've been here. It's turned into a household for me," Koroisau said connected signifier arsenic the Panthers celebrated their grand last triumph implicit the Eels.

"There's truthful overmuch young talent.

"To spell retired connected a precocious similar that ... it's beauteous incredible, and I'll astir apt bash the aforesaid happening astatine the Tigers," helium added, earlier bursting into hysterics.

The Tigers issued Koroisau's absorption a "please explain" and dealt with the substance privately.

Sheens backed Koroisau's assignment connected 2GB's Wide World of Sports radio connected Tuesday night.

"What's done with a fewer beers successful you aft a expansive last is..." Sheens said.

"And of people the media are ever going to hound you, and that's the quality of the net these days. Things are ever retired there.

"But arsenic acold arsenic I'm acrophobic it's got thing to bash with wherever we're at.

"He hadn't adjacent arrived astatine the nine astatine the time, and I'm blessed with what's happened since helium got present and truthful are the players. So, again, I accent that they are the ones who person to beryllium led by (Koroisau), and they felt (being) led by him is the mode to go."

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James Tamou, Luke Brooks, Adam Doueihi, Ken Maumalo and Tyrone Peachey were named Tigers captains for the 2022 season. Tamou has since departed for the Cowboys and Peachey the Panthers.

The five-captain strategy was devised nether the reign of Michael Maguire, who was sacked by the Tigers successful June.

Sheens began a 2nd stint arsenic Tigers manager aft Brett Kimmorley filled the void successful an interim capacity.

"I've seen the earthy enactment (of Koroisau) and truthful person the players," Sheens said.

"It was a subordinate ballot and coaches had a say, arsenic well. I enactment it each unneurotic and Api has got the numbers, and I deliberation got the close feeling amongst the players to beryllium the earthy leader.

"He does it astatine training. He's surely the astir highly decorated subordinate we've got. So, tons of bully things with him."

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