Wests Tigers secret tactics in victory over Penrith revealed: How coach Tim Sheens made a simple masterstroke to set his team up for a huge upset victory over Prime Ministers
- Tigers cunning tactics aid in an upset win
- Sheens instructed players to tap wrists
- Tape provides more grip on the ball
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens used a covert tactic to end his side’s 273-day losing streak to beat two-time reigning premiers Penrith 12-8 in torrential rain on Saturday night.
It was a win no one saw coming and ended the Tigers’ losing streak that included seven losses to start the season after finishing 2022 with five straight losses.
Playing in the pouring rain at Bathurst’s Carrington Park, Sheens instructed his players to wear heavy tape on their wrists to provide more grip on the ball in the slippery conditions.
It was a trick the veteran boss learned while coaching in England, and the move paid off.
The Tigers made fewer mistakes than the Panthers, with an excellent 90 percent completion rate – but the strapping trick almost failed in the final minutes.
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens used a cunning trick to end his side’s 273-day losing streak to beat two-time reigning premiers Penrith 12-8 in torrential rain on Saturday night
Sheens instructed his players to wear tape on their wrists to have more grip on the ball in the slippery conditions – a move he learned while coaching in England
Prop David Klemmer’s tape stuck to the ball and fouled with two minutes left on the clock, but the Tigers fought on to hold on for a gutsy win.
“It’s not just a win, it’s a very good win,” Sheens said afterwards.
‘There was no luck in it. We worked very, very hard.
“We had a good game plan, we thought – we prepared for the rain and the guys executed it almost to the letter.
“That will show the boys that if they stick with what they are willing to do, we have a decent football team there.”
The result adds pressure to an admittedly understaffed Panthers side who have now started their premiership defense with four wins and four losses.
“They played better under the conditions,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
“They deserve a lot of credit, but we didn’t play really smart tonight.
The Tigers made fewer mistakes than the Panthers, with an outstanding 90 percent completion rate in shocking conditions
It was a win no one saw coming that ended the Tigers’ losing streak in which they suffered seven losses to start the season after finishing 2022 with five straight losses.
“We definitely feel we contributed to the loss tonight.”
Without injured partner Adam Doueihi, much-maligned No. 7 Luke Brooks took on the challenge of putting the Tigers on a roll.
The Tigers’ two tries both came straight after Brooks 40/20 kicks, the first of which was in the first set of the night.
After his first flawless try, Brooks ran a grubber through the defense to give Brandon Wakeham the opening try – all before the reigning Prime Ministers had touched the ball.
“His kicking game was how we won today,” Koroisau said of Brooks.