The former NRL-winning coach (with Canberra and Wests Tigers) has been the Australian coach for the past seven years and hopes to be there for a few more years yet to rebuild the national side in the face of a massive challenge from the Kiwis and the Pacific Islander player percentage in the NRL ranks.

Sheens gave an honest and interesting appraisal of the current rugby league landscape.

West Lions vice-president Neil Alderton was impressed.

“He was straight down the line, very interesting about State of Origin, the Australian side and schoolboys.

“It was excellent and very enlightening on stuff we don’t get to hear about.”

He also thought fellow speakers,  basketballing legend Pat Hunt and young cricket gun James Psarakis, were  contrasts in sporting  excellence, one just starting out and the other a master of more than 30 years at the top level of coaches.

Hunt, born and bred in Tamworth, left the city in 1981 to coach the Canberra Cannons in the old national basketball league.

He is now the chairman of the FIBA technical commission as well as the FIBA coaches.

Tomorrow he flies out for Geneva to attend a special technical commission gathering to look at ways of improving the playing styles and conditions for players.

For  Psarakis, the near future is a tantalising challenge.

The former NSW Under 17 and NSW Country/ACT Under 19 cricketer is off to Sydney to have some interviews with a few clubs.

As to which one he plays with, he’s not real sure about.

“I’m having a few interviews with a few clubs,” the 18-year-old, who captained his school (Tamworth High) and South Tamworth first grade last year in the just-finished  season.

“It’s a very exciting time. I just want to get down there and start a new challenge.”

Being on the same bill as the Australian rugby league coach and a basketballing coach who has been to three or four Olympics in various capacities was a huge thrill.

“It was very exciting, a great experience to be on the same table with them.”