Latest news with #2005Premiership
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Such a shame': NRL world saddened over news about Tim Sheens and Robbie Farah
NRL fans are expressing their sadness and disappointment after Tim Sheens and Robbie Farah were noticeable absentees at a 20-year reunion for the club's 2005 premiership triumph. The 2005 squad gathered in the chairman's lounge at Leichhardt Oval to mark 20 years since their 30-16 win over North Queensland in the grand final that year. Current Tigers coach Benji Marshall was in attendance, as was Cowboys coach Todd Payten (who played for the Tigers in 2005). The only players missing from the function were Farah (who was overseas) and Scott Prince (due to family commitments). A number of the team's coaching staff also attended, but 2005 coach Sheens stayed away. The 74-year-old had a bitter falling out with the club in 2023 when he was sacked and replaced by Marshall. Sheens was brought back to mentor Marshall at the start of 2023, and was supposed to hand over the reigns after two years as head coach. But the club bit the bullet early and sacked Sheens out of the blue so Marshall could take over 12 months early. Sheens boycotted the club's end of season awards night at the end of that year, and has seemingly severed all ties. As for Farah, it remains to be seen whether he would have attended if he was in the country. The former hooker served as an assistant under Sheens in 2023 and Marshall in 2024, but was let go at the end of last season (their third wooden spoon in a row). Club officials have previously stressed that Farah and Marshall's relationship remains strong despite the decision to let him go. NRL columnist 'The Mole' wrote on social media: "Such a shame Tim Sheens boycotted the 20-year reunion of the Wests Tigers miracle of 2005. But he is a man of principal and the Tigers knifed him something shocking." Others described it as "awful" and "very sad" that Sheens' relationship with the Tigers still hasn't been repaired. He led the club in 278 of his 778 games as a first-grade head coach, but was left filthy with the way he departed. The Tigers initially stated it was a mutual decision, but Sheens' good friend Royce Simmons later revealed he was sacked against his wishes. 'Why would you go (to the awards night)?' Simmons said in 2023. 'If you weren't wanted at the club, how could you go to their presentation night? 'They sacked him. And I can only imagine how frustrated Tim is. It's sad to see. He wasn't given the opportunity to do what he wanted to do. You bring a coach back who has won a premiership, and is in the top bracket of coaches of all time, you look to his expertise, then you don't use it. It doesn't make any sense to me.' RELATED: Andrew Johns responds amid Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler rumour Brisbane Broncos coach spotted in eye-opening move in dressing rooms Tigers legend Benny Elias previously said: "The way they treated him, it was disgusting. They signed him saying: 'Help us, help us', so he puts his heart and soul into the club and then they sack him again. 'It was the board's decision to punt him...I was genuinely embarrassed at the way it happened and how he was treated. This bloke is a legend. This is the coach who has won four grand finals at two clubs, coached NSW and Australia. When it comes to the elite in terms of coaching, he is up there in the top three coaches."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'A rabble': Crows player's scathing swipe of Swans amid Adam Goodes appearance
Sydney Swans legend Adam Goodes lifted spirits at the SCG on Saturday night with the premiership winning team of 2005 celebrating their 20th reunion, but it didn't help their former side improve after a dismal showing. The Adelaide Crows were far superior to the Swans on Saturday night having kicked 12 unanswered goals on their way to a 21.5 (131) to 5.11 (41) victory. The Swans were expected to make a contest of the clash having celebrated the famed Bloods team of 2005, but the the Crows battered last year's beaten grand finalists without mercy. Adelaide now move to third (8-4) on the ladder with the Swans' finals hopes hanging by a thread. Swans coach Dean Cox described the performance as "unacceptable and embarrassing" on a night a group of legends were in attendance. "I didn't expect that on such a massive night for the footy club, when you have a 20-year reunion for a team that played desperate, uncompromising, ruthless football," Cox said. "That was far from it." The 2005 winning team did a lap of honour at halftime to mark the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough premiership. the '05 Swans caused me more heartbreak than I've ever experienced in my entire life.. but ngl it's good to see Adam Goodes at an AFL game with a smile on his face — BRZY (@outbreezyWC) May 31, 2025 And fans were thrilled to see legend Goodes among the group. Goodes is an Australian of the Year and two-time Brownlow Medallist, and is still close with the Sydney Swans. However, his relationship with the AFL isn't as strong. Goodes was mercilessly booed by opposition crowds before he eventually retired in 2015, and the AFL later admitted it should have done more to stop the booing. He has been eligible for induction into the AFL Hall of Fame for several years, but appears no closer to accepting the honour. And he hasn't attended any official AFL functions since walking away from the game after calling out racism. However, Goodes was in attendance on Saturday night and the crowd adored the legend's appearance with the 2005 group in great spirits. it's 2025 and adam goodes is SMILING while on the SCG field for a lap of honour with the 2005 premiership team — jess 🫂 (@hopeurokayyyy) May 31, 2025 Adam Goodes joining the rest of the 2005 team in the walk to the SCG is so wonderful to see 🥺❤️ — Imo (@imogenrq) May 31, 2025 While the Swans were left embarrassed after the loss in front of club legelds, Crows star Wayne Milera took a dig at the side when they were down. The Swans made the final last year, before going down to the Brisbane Lions in a one-sided contest. With John Longmire leaving at the end of the season, Cox has stepped in and struggled as injuries have hampered Sydney's season. But after the Swans were left chasing the shadows as seats emptied at the SCG, Milera took a post-match dig at Sydney. Milera told ABC Sport the Crows could feel the Swans were rudderless at home after the 90-point drubbing "You could sort of feel it as a group," Milera said after the match. "They were sort of a bit of a rabble, just hearing them on the ground." Speaking on the thumping, AFL great Matthew Lloyd was scathing of his assessment. "Sydney have just fallen apart. They are all at sea," Matthew Lloyd said on Channel 9 in his breakdown of the game. "They just didn't adjust, they didn't look dishevelled as a coaching team. Right throughout." The comment will be a dagger for the Swans who now face 16th-placed Richmond next week. Josh Rachele and Ben Keays both kicked three goals, while Alex Neal-Bullen (25 disposals) and Josh Worrell (24) dominated possession. For the Crows, coach Matthews Nicks hailed his group for a dominant performance. "In my short time as a coach, we haven't had a lot of fun up here - we've often gone away disappointed," former Swans player Nicks said. "We knew Sydney would come out hard, and we had to match that. I'm trying to think through who our standouts were and from a coaching point of view, that's the most pleasing part of the performance - everyone contributed. The first key (takeaway) is we don't start talking about the second half of the season because we've still got a couple of games before the bye, so we just lock in now."
