Tigers SOS for Reg Regan

[DIEHARD]

By James Hooper - September 24, 2005

Experienced Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens yesterday called upon rugby league cult figure Reg Reagan as the Tigers searched for the X-factor to guide them into a historic NRL Grand Final.

Reagan's alter ego Matthew Johns is one of the code's leading tacticians, and Sheens was keen to have the former Australian five-eighth hone the Tigers' kicking game.

In a bizarre scene on the eve of tonight's Grand Final qualifier, Reagan was at Aussie Stadium in full comic mode for the launch of his new DVD Blood, Sweat And Beers (pictured above) as the Tigers were preparing for their final closed training session.

When his promotional commitments were out of the way, Reagan dropped his trademark moustache and switched back to the identity of Johns to help the Tigers.

The former Newcastle, NSW and Australian star worked with Tigers playmakers Scott Prince, Benji Marshall, Brett Hodgson and Robbie Farah ahead of tonight's sold-out sudden-death final.

Johns last night revealed a few of the tips he passed on to the Tigers in a half-hour session, saying: "When you're playing inside Aussie Stadium in a game as big as this, the noise just roars.

"We had a bit of a yarn about positioning, how the players should really focus as far as kicking is concerned. It will be absolute pandemonium in the stadium but among all the madness they've got to try to keep their heads, which is really hard in big games."

Sheens sent the SOS to Reagan/Johns believing the Tigers' short kicking game was slightly off last Sunday against Brisbane, preventing the Tigers from mounting pressure through repeat sets of tackles.

Source: http://www.news.com.au - The Daily Telegraph

[Dakink]

Reg would be the first one chosen on my touring party!

Though smart move by Sheens - Not just for Matty's technical knowledge but more for the youngsters and ensure they hold their compsure in a big game.

[Shadow XL]

hahaha funny! Well it must have been reg that put them in the grandfinal. I mean all of his experience must have been helpful!

[Teegy]

Na Tigers just played to good of footy. dragons were sloppy maybe because of the break

[Shadow XL]

yer, once they started to get some momentum they would drop the footy and just kill it all, and the speed of the tigers just blew them away aswell i would say.