Sheens hopes Raiders stick by Furner

Tim Sheens has implored Canberra officials not to give up on embattled Raiders coach David Furner. Sheens' Wests Tigers heaped more pressure on Furner last Saturday when they trounced the Raiders 40-0 to leave Canberra second-last on the NRL ladder with just four wins this season. Three days later, Sheens, who won three premierships (1989, 1990 and 1994) when in charge of the Raiders, jumped to the defence of Furner. Furner played in Sheens' 1994 premiership-winning Raiders side and was until recently his assistant with the Australian side. This week the Raiders were forced to publicly back Furner after rumours circulated on Twitter the club and coach were set to part ways. Sheens believes there are mitigating circumstances for Canberra's struggles this year and that should not be forgotten. "These things come and go in a season and you just hope that the powers that be at Canberra stand behind him and understand that without his key playmaker Terry Campese in particular it can be very tough," Sheens said. "He's lost Campese two years in a row to injury and he's lost his forward leader Brett White too. "I've had Benji Marshall off the field for many a game with those recurring shoulder injuries some years back, so I know how hard it is when you lose such a key player." Sheens spoke to Furner after last Saturday's match in Canberra and told him to keep his head up. "David's a quality person of strong character and is as determined a guy as I've ever coached or worked with," Sheens said. "Canberra have been a pretty good club ... they are pretty loyal to their own people." The Tigers are shooting for seven straight victories on Friday night when they take on Melbourne but it wasn't that long ago people were calling for Sheens' head. Ironically, that came after the Tigers were beaten 30-16 by Canberra in March, leaving Sheens' early premiership favourites winless after four rounds. "They dished it up to us that day and I was in a similar situation to David. People weren't happy with me and wanted me out," he said. "He can coach and I've got no doubt he's a first-grade coach. "I put him on as an assistant coach of the Australian side because I rate the guy big-time." Canberra have gone into a week-long camp in Newcastle in preparation for Saturday night's clash with the Knights at Hunter Stadium.from world news.