NRL: Timely reminder for Tigers

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SYDNEY: The alarm bells are ringing and Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens hopes his players have been listening ahead of today's NRL match against Cronulla.

Following last Sunday's 38-20 defeat against Manly, Sheens warned that despite his side's lofty position on the ladder, they are still some way from sealing their first finals spot since their 2005 grand final-winning season.

And while the fourth-placed Tigers' clash with the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval appears a mismatch, Sheens is taking nothing for granted.

"The Manly game has reminded us that we've still got work to do and defensively in particular," Sheens said.

"We were leading that game with a bit of football 8-0 and to be 18-8 down, that just shows we're not good enough if we don't bring our defensive game.

"We've really worked hard this week to bring our defensive game to Cronulla." Not even the comforts of home have Sheens relaxing. He said the Tigers' last match at Leichhardt, where they had to overhaul a 16-0 deficit to beat North Queensland 26-16 should be fresh in his players' memories. "It's probably a timely reminder, the Cowboys game, that Leichhardt won't win it, it's the effort will win it.

"They played well last week, Cronulla, they're close to full strength and they've got nothing to lose so they can play a free and easy game.

"They've got a very good, strong defensive side, arguably a stronger defensive outfit than the Cowboys, so if they jump 16-0 in front of us we're not going to run them down."

The Tigers will be boosted by the return of Gareth Ellis, who has missed the past three weeks with an injury.

And Sheens felt the second rower's presence will provide his team with some added defensive steel against the Sharks' back-row of Grant Millington, Anthony Tupou and Paul Gallen.

"We're talking defence and that's his forte, that really allows us to focus on our 'D' and allows me to play (Chris) Heighington in behind the ruck and (Liam) Fulton's tackling and playing well so our back three are looking much stronger this week," he said.

"We're going to need to be because I think that's one of their strengths too, their back three."

- AAP