Tim Sheens

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Tim George Sheens
Born
Monday, 30th October, 1950
Current Age
73 years and 151 days
Place Of Birth
Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Coach Of The Year
1984, 1990, 2005

Known Family Links

Granduncle
Joe Regent
Brother
Bob Sheens

Biography

Veteran forward, a member of a well-known footballing family in the Penrith area, was a fine ball-player in his own right before becoming one of the best of the modern breed of coaches. Sheens was first graded in 1969 but preferred to play a season of second division RU before returning to the club the following year. A second rower earlier in his career (he had his jaw broken in Penrith's loss to Western Division in the 1974 Amco Cup final), he spent the latter part of his career as a prop. After establishing a club record number of grade games (258), Sheens could not come to terms with the club at the end of the 1982 season. The following year he captained Campbelltown to a premiership title in the Group 6 competition and represented NSW Country. In 1984, Sheens accepted the coaching position at Penrith - a move that proved to be the turning point in the club's fortunes. The following year the Panthers made the semis for the first time due largely to Sheens' professional approach, skills training and his knowledge of local players and their talents. The 'Dally M' Coach of the Year in 1984 (and later in 1990), he left the club after four mixed seasons for greater success at Canberra. The champion Raiders team won back-to-back premierships in 1989-90 and would have made it three straight but for factors beyond Sheens' control - injuries to star players, financial mismanagement and a hungrier Penrith side. Politics limited his term as NSW coach to just one season (a series defeat in 1991) but in 1994 he guided the Raiders to an authoritative grand final win - the club's third premiership in seven seasons under his control. Sheens was one of the first coaches signed by the Super League and after nine seasons with the Raiders he linked with the North Queensland North Queensland in 1997. Despite a disappointing Super League season - in which the club finished last - Sheens signed a five-year contract to stay with the North Queensland. After failing to make an impact in the NRL premiership in his six seasons with the North Queensland, Sheens ‘resigned’ midway through 2001 (after being forced by the club to stand down for ‘health reasons’), but not before setting a record number of first grade matches as a coach. In 2003 he took on the coaching role with the W’Tigers club (appointing Royce Simmons his assistant) and took the troubled club to the brink of the finals in 2004.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 174 11 -   - 33 50 120 4 28.74% List
Endeavour Cup 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Craven Mild Cup 6 - -   - - 0 6 0 0.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 3 2 -   - 6 2 1 0 66.67% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith NSWRFL 1970 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1971 3 - -   - - 1 2 0 33.33% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1972 15 - -   - - 3 11 1 20.00% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1973 21 1 -   - 3 5 16 0 23.81% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1974 18 1 -   - 3 7 11 0 38.89% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1975 17 6 -   - 18 7 10 0 41.18% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1976 18 1 -   - 3 7 10 1 38.89% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1977 16 2 -   - 6 5 11 0 31.25% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1978 8 - -   - - 1 7 0 12.50% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1979 6 - -   - - 3 3 0 50.00% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1980 18 - -   - - 2 15 1 11.11% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1981 14 - -   - - 6 8 0 42.86% List
Penrith NSWRFL 1982 19 - -   - - 3 15 1 15.79% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith 1970-82 174 11 -   - 33 50 120 4 28.74% List

Your Say

  • Paul Carter
    09/04/2010

    In 1983 Sheens Captained Campbelltown City to victory in the Group 6 Grand Final.They beat The Oaks 24-6 to win the Grand Final at Campbelltown Sportsground when it was called Orana Park.

  • Lucas
    03/04/2012

    Tim went to St. Dominics college in kingswood and was an exceptional player.

  • baz
    23/09/2014

    Ive known Tim for several years. He is ,in my view ,one of the most accomplished coaches ever to coach at club or National level.He has a great ability to unearth young talent and develop it to the highest level. Benji Marshall comes- readily to mind. He is absolutely passionate about the game
    and just by talking to him you can learn so much about the finer points of the game not apparent to the average fan.As can be seen I am an unashamed Tim Sheens fan.

  • Anonymous
    29/01/2021

    sheens also coached super league Tri Series 1997
    NSW beat Qld in the final a game that went for 103 minutes.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio