Tim Sheens insists Michael Maguire’s job is SAFE and talk of Wests sacking their coach is premature
‘I’m standing by Madge’: Tim Sheens insists Michael Maguire’s job is SAFE and that talk of Wests sacking their coach is ‘jumping the gun’ as Tigers remain winless following dismal loss against Newcastle
Michael Maguire retains the full support of Wests Tigers football chief Tim Sheens, despite a dismal display in Round 2.
After an encouraging performance against Melbourne ended in defeat in the opening round last week, the Tigers were never at the races in an embarrassing 26-4 loss to Newcastle on Sunday.
Despite missing star fullback Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer, the Knights raced to a 20-0 lead with Wests continuing to be their own worst enemy.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire is under increasing pressure to hold onto his job
The defeat piled further criticism on Maguire’s shoulder after he entered the season as the most under-pressure coach in the NRL.
Sheens, however, insisted calls for the Tigers to replace their coach were premature.
‘It’s a bit early to be jumping the gun — it’s Round 2 for goodness sake, not Round 22,’ he told NewsCorp.
‘I’ve been around too long for knee-jerk reactions. I won’t be sucked into it.
But Wests’ football chief Tim Sheens insists the club are fully behind Maguire
‘I’m standing by Madge and the team. People wanted to sack Des Hasler after four weeks last year and then look what happened at Manly.’
Manly lost their first four games last season, before winning 16 of their remaining 20 matches to finish fourth and reach the finals.
It would take a major leap of faith to expect the Tigers to pull off something even remotely close and not only because they lack star players such as Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Wests slumped to a dismal 26-4 loss against Newcastle in Round 2 of the NRL season
There were only four teams worse than Wests last season and Maguire held onto his job by the skin of his teeth.
The Tigers brought in their only premiership-winning coach in Sheens to help steady the ship, but the move is yet to pay dividends.
Nevertheless, the former Kangaroos coach is adamant the club can turn the corner, even drawing parallels with the 2005 season, when the Tigers won the Grand Final after being as low as 11th on the ladder.
The Tigers never looked like troubling a Knights side missing two of their best players in Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer on Sunday afternoon
Tyrone Peachey was sin-binned for a blatant professional foul against the Knights
‘Our job is to put our heads down, stick together, and be solid to each other,’ Sheen added.
‘Yes they had a bad day yesterday and the whole world has jumped on them. I’ve been around too long for all this speculation and I won’t be sucked into it.
‘In 2005 we were running 11th and there were issues about whether I should be there. Please quote me — I stand by Madge and the players. Fracturing the place is not the answer.
‘We’ve got to work hard, simple as that.’
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