Tim Sheens
Encyclopedia
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers
of the National Rugby League
and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos. He has won four premierships as a coach and broken the record for most top-level games in Australian rugby league history and has also served as New South Wales' State of Origin
coach.
As a player, Sheens was a prop forward with Sydney's Penrith Panthers
in the 1970s and 80s before he retired and became their coach. He then coached the Canberra Raiders
to successive premierships before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys
and later the Wests Tigers.
in Penrith
but spent his last two years of school at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
, where he was the school captain and first-grade rugby league captain in 1968.
Sheens had a lengthy playing stint with Penrith
, playing 166 first grade games as a prop from 1970–1982 and scoring 11 tries. Sheens was soon coaxed out of retirement though, playing one season with the Campbelltown City Kangaroos in 1983, captaining that club to the Group 6 Rugby League
premiership that season. In October 2006, in recognition of his contribution as a player, Sheens was named as one of the Penrith Panthers "Team of Legends".
Tim Sheens' brother, Bob
, was also a first grade NSWRFL player for Eastern Suburbs
.
to their first premiership in 1989, a feat he repeated in 1990 and 1994.
However, Sheens' time with the North Queensland Cowboys
(1997–2001) was less successful and, after board discussions, a period of stress-leave and while News Limited launched a take-over of the club, he resigned from North Queensland on 25 May 2001.
In 2002, Sheens accepted the coaching position with the Wests Tigers for the 2003 season, replacing Terry Lamb
. The feat of the Wests Tigers winning the 2005 Grand Final against the Cowboys has been largely attributed to Sheens.
Sheens has coached four premiership winning teams, making him second only to Wayne Bennett among current coaches. Sheens was awarded the Dally M
Coach of the Year in 1984, 1990 and 2005.
In December 2007, Sheens' contract with the Tigers – due to expire at the end of the 2008 season – was extended to 2010.
On 3 May 2010 Sheens became the first coach in Australian rugby league history to reach 600 games. In 2011, Penrith Panthers offered Tim the job as head coach for the club. However, on 29 April 2011, Tim decided to stay coach for the Tigers and extended his coaching contract for until 2014.
team, he led the side to a 2–1 series loss to Queensland. In 1997 Sheens coached the NSW super league side to a 23 to 22 win over Queensland in a Tri series competition involving NSW Queensland and New Zealand.
Sheens returned to the NRL representative arena in 2006 when he succeeded Graham Murray as coach for City Origin, a post he retained in 2007 and 2008. In 2006, City lost to Country, 12 points to 10 but won in 2007, 12 points to 6. The 2008 match was a 22–22 draw, with City retaining the trophy.
In February 2009, Sheens was appointed coach of the Australian national rugby league team
following the resignation of Ricky Stuart
. Sheens coached the Kangaroos to their first win in his charge, defeating the Kiwis
on 8 May 2009.
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos. He has won four premierships as a coach and broken the record for most top-level games in Australian rugby league history and has also served as New South Wales' State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
coach.
As a player, Sheens was a prop forward with Sydney's Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in the 1970s and 80s before he retired and became their coach. He then coached the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
to successive premierships before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
and later the Wests Tigers.
Playing career
Tim Sheens was educated at St Dominic's CollegeSt Dominics College, Sydney
St Dominic's College is an all boys Catholic secondary school located in Penrith, New South Wales. St. Dominic's College was established in 1959 under Christian Brothers and to this day is officially run by Christian Brothers. Between 1978 and 1985 years 11 and 12 at the college were co-educational...
in Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
but spent his last two years of school at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
St Gregory's College is a Catholic, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in Campbelltown, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, where he was the school captain and first-grade rugby league captain in 1968.
Sheens had a lengthy playing stint with Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, playing 166 first grade games as a prop from 1970–1982 and scoring 11 tries. Sheens was soon coaxed out of retirement though, playing one season with the Campbelltown City Kangaroos in 1983, captaining that club to the Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 is a senior Rugby League competition in New South Wales, Australia, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.The geographical area covered by Group 6 takes in much of the Southern Highlands and southern Macarthur regions of New South Wales, extending from Moss Vale, New South...
premiership that season. In October 2006, in recognition of his contribution as a player, Sheens was named as one of the Penrith Panthers "Team of Legends".
Tim Sheens' brother, Bob
Bob Sheens
Bob Sheens was a rugby league footballer in Australia's major competition the New South Wales Rugby League. Bob is the brother of Tim Sheens....
, was also a first grade NSWRFL player for Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
Coaching career
Although his first ever game as first-grade coach was a 24–12 loss to St George, Tim Sheens has a track-record of reforming under-performing teams to premiership victory. He brought Penrith to their first finals series ever in 1985 and he coached the Canberra RaidersCanberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
to their first premiership in 1989, a feat he repeated in 1990 and 1994.
However, Sheens' time with the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
(1997–2001) was less successful and, after board discussions, a period of stress-leave and while News Limited launched a take-over of the club, he resigned from North Queensland on 25 May 2001.
In 2002, Sheens accepted the coaching position with the Wests Tigers for the 2003 season, replacing Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker...
. The feat of the Wests Tigers winning the 2005 Grand Final against the Cowboys has been largely attributed to Sheens.
Sheens has coached four premiership winning teams, making him second only to Wayne Bennett among current coaches. Sheens was awarded the Dally M
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
Coach of the Year in 1984, 1990 and 2005.
In December 2007, Sheens' contract with the Tigers – due to expire at the end of the 2008 season – was extended to 2010.
On 3 May 2010 Sheens became the first coach in Australian rugby league history to reach 600 games. In 2011, Penrith Panthers offered Tim the job as head coach for the club. However, on 29 April 2011, Tim decided to stay coach for the Tigers and extended his coaching contract for until 2014.
Representative coaching
At the representative level, Sheens coached the 1991 ARL City Origin team to a 22–12 win over Country. In the same year, as coach of the NSW State of OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
team, he led the side to a 2–1 series loss to Queensland. In 1997 Sheens coached the NSW super league side to a 23 to 22 win over Queensland in a Tri series competition involving NSW Queensland and New Zealand.
Sheens returned to the NRL representative arena in 2006 when he succeeded Graham Murray as coach for City Origin, a post he retained in 2007 and 2008. In 2006, City lost to Country, 12 points to 10 but won in 2007, 12 points to 6. The 2008 match was a 22–22 draw, with City retaining the trophy.
In February 2009, Sheens was appointed coach of the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
following the resignation of Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
. Sheens coached the Kangaroos to their first win in his charge, defeating the Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
on 8 May 2009.
Coaching record
| Tim Sheens – Coaching Results by Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Year | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win % | Finals Series |
| Penrith | 1984 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 50% | |
| 1985 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 53.85% | Semi-final: Parramatta 38–Penrith 6 |
|
| 1986 | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 45.83% | ||
| 1987 | 24 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 25% | ||
| Canberra | 1988 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 62.5% | Minor Semi Final: Balmain 14–Canberra 6 |
| 1989 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 69.23% | Grand Final: Canberra 19–Balmain 14 |
|
| 1990 | 25 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 72% | Grand Final: Canberra 18–Penrith 14 |
|
| 1991 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 65.38% | Grand Final: Penrith 19–Canberra 12 |
|
| 1992 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 45.45% | ||
| 1993 | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 66.67% | Minor Semi Final: Brisbane 30–Canberra 12 |
|
| 1994 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 76.92% | Grand Final: Canberra 36–Canterbury 12 |
|
| 1995 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 87.5% | Preliminary Final 1: Canterbury 25–Canberra 6 |
|
| 1996 | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 59.09% | Quarter Final 3: St George 16–Canberra 14 |
|
| North Queensland | 1997 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 27.78% | |
| 1998 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 37.5% | ||
| 1999 | 24 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 16.67% | ||
| 2000 | 26 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 26.92% | ||
| 2001 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 18.18% | ||
| Wests Tigers | 2003 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 29.17% | |
| 2004 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 41.67% | ||
| 2005 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 64.29% | Grand Final: Wests Tigers 30–North Queensland 16 |
|
| 2006 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 41.67% | ||
| 2007 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 45.83% | ||
| 2008 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 45.83% | ||
| 2009 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 50% | ||
| 2010 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 59.26% | Preliminary Final: St George Illawarra 13–Wests Tigers 12 |
|
| 2011 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 61.54% | Semi Final: New Zealand Warriors 22–Wests Tigers 20 |
|
| Career | 645 | 329 | 305 | 11 | 51.01% | at 16 September 2011 | |