Coach: Tim Sheens 2003 - 2012 Wests Tigers

1 coach: tim sheens 2003 - 2012

1.1 premiership success
1.2 post grand final failure
1.3 return finals football
1.4 form slump

coach: tim sheens 2003 - 2012

the 2003 season notable emergence of new young players through team club moved away era of big names , big money signings , focused on developing junior talent. notably benji marshall, schoolboy prodigy no senior league experience, made debut against newcastle knights.

the tigers improved in 2004 aided signings of players such brett hodgson , pat richards began blend younger players emerging talents. tigers narrowly missed playoffs after losing final 3 games when single victory have guaranteed finals football first time.

premiership success

for more information, see 2005 grand final

2005 wests tigers best season yet, not made finals first time, reached top 4 in round robin part of competition, setting crowd attendance records @ 3 different grounds: campbelltown stadium (20,527), telstra stadium (29,542) , leichhardt oval (22,877).

after slow start, bookmakers rated tigers 150–1 chance win premiership. club emerged bottom half of table win club-record 8 in row before finishing fourth. team developed reputation flamboyant attacking side played @ rapid pace compensate lack of forward size.

the tigers played first ever final joint venture club @ telstra stadium against north queensland cowboys. backed passionate crowd team won 50–6. beat brisbane broncos 34–6 , premiership favourites st george illawarra dragons 20–12 book spot against cowboys.

based on winning form (they had won 11 of last 13) , big win on cowboys in opening finals game, wests tigers rated favourites win 2005 grand final. after slow start, bryce gibbs , pat richards scored tries give tigers 12–6 lead. richards try ranked second best try of time in nrl s centenary of rugby league 100 hot tries survey. try started five-eighth benji marshall, received ball brett hodgson (after receiving down field kick) 98 metres opposition tryline. beat cowboys five-eighth johnathan thurston , matt sing. marshall ran 60 metres, caught cowboys fullback matt bowen. made flick pass pat richards behind back, fended off rod jensen score.

in second half tigers gained control tries anthony laffranchi , daniel fitzhenry. after withstanding cowboys fightback, todd payten try on full-time sealed 30–16 win. captain scott prince awarded clive churchill medal 2005.

the premiership victory meant club joined exclusive group won premierships in first finals appearance, had not been achieved in 100 years. group includes souths in 1908 , newtown in 1910.

at end of 2005 season, wests signed malaysian car manufacturer proton major new sponsor on contract estimated worth more $1 million.

post grand final failure

following premiership win several key players left club. grand final team, mark o neill, , pat richards signed english clubs (leeds rhinos , wigan warriors respectively). new signings included jamaal lolesi (bulldogs), keith galloway (cronulla sharks) , ryan o hara (canberra raiders).

as defending premiers, wests tigers began season travelling england play english super league champions bradford bulls. missing many of star players, tigers tried hard beaten 10–30. after come behind win on competition heavyweights st george-illawarra, team struggled injuries key players. notably benji marshall , brett hodgson missed large portions of season. team suffered number of narrow losses late in games , 2 golden point (extra time) matches in controversial circumstances.

the wests tigers narrowly missed finals , chance defend title. 1 highlight of season debut of several players including chris lawrence , emergence of , coming players such dean collis. brett hodgson played new south wales team in interstate state of origin series in 3 games. highlight upset win on eventual premiers brisbane broncos @ suncorp stadium second-string tigers side missing hodgson, marshall, whatuira , gibbs beat more experienced broncos 20–6.

joining club 2007 season john morris (ex parramatta eels) replace scott prince signed gold coast titans. other players leave @ end of 2006 season john skandalis, anthony laffranchi , shane elford – members of 2005 grand final team.

the wests tigers had bad start season losing opening 4 games narrow margins. had six-game winning streak move top four. tigers five-eighth benji marshall , full-back brett hodgson missed majority of season injuries.

the wests tigers ended attempt @ finals berth , finished season on aloss newcastle knights, 26–24, @ then-telstra stadium.

the following 2 seasons ended in same fashion tigers missing out on finals narrowly in 2008 , 2009 finishing 10th , 9th.

in february 2008, wests tigers announced extension of benji marshall s contract 1 year, end of 2009. announced signing of gareth ellis, leeds rhinos second-rower , international representative, three-year deal commencing in 2009.

return finals football

in february 2010, wests tigers announced signing of former rugby union star lote tuqiri 3 years, , signing of benji marshall further five.

in 2010 club finished third in minor premiership competition, narrowly missing out on grand final spot after losing eventual premiers st. george illawarra dragons in preliminary final 1 point.

2011 successful season tigers finishing 4th , making semi finals yet again, defeated late try new zealand warriors in loss.

form slump

despite being backed premiership favourites @ start of season, tigers failed qualify finals in 2012 season finishing 10th.

on 25 september 2012, in press conference ceo stephen humphreys , chairman dave trodden announced tim sheens not head coach in 2013 in restructuring of club. came week after loss of long-term players beau ryan , chris heighington cronulla sharks 2013 season, , poor 2012 season on field. heighington had 1 year on contract left while handshake deal ryan had been made in february.