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CHRIS LAWRENCE TO MAKE A WELCOME RETURN
By Wayne Cousins
7/07/2011 11:05:40 AM
The return of centre Chris Lawrence from a dislocated hip injury will be more of a mental battle when he lines up for Wests Tigers against Parramatta Eels on Friday night.
Lawrence makes a much awaited welcome return to the side since suffering the injury in round 3 against Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium.
Wests Tigers have struggled on the left edge in attack without Lawrence but Head Coach Tim Sheens has warned supporters not to expect fireworks in his first game back.
“I’m not putting pressure on Chris. He has had more than a three month layoff so you are not going to ask him to score four tries. I just want him to do his job out there,” Sheens said.
“He will bring some strength to the side and speed to the left edge. We can’t expect the world from him.
“Physically, yet alone, psychologically, he is going to have to work hard. He has done everything at training and has been extremely good.
“We have held him back. He could have played two weeks ago but we were not prepared to do so. We used the bye to help bring him up.
“I am very happy with where he is at. He is too. He will still need to get through the first few tackles and make the first couple of runs before he is confident.”
Sheens said he would also use prop Todd Payten in limited spells as he makes a welcome return from a knee injury following a successful stem cell operation.
“Todd will be playing limited minutes but he will contribute at some stage. We are not expecting the world from Toddy,’’ Sheens added.
“There will be 2-3 short spells from Todd but that will bring him back over the next week or two to where we want him.”
Captain Robbie Farah said Lawrence’s return from injury has had a positive impact on the team.
“Chris has been a massive loss for us. He has worked really hard on getting back from his injury,’’ Farah said.
“He is 100 per cent ready to go. I know he is excited and we are excited to have him back.”
By Wayne Cousins
7/07/2011 11:05:40 AM
The return of centre Chris Lawrence from a dislocated hip injury will be more of a mental battle when he lines up for Wests Tigers against Parramatta Eels on Friday night.
Lawrence makes a much awaited welcome return to the side since suffering the injury in round 3 against Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium.
Wests Tigers have struggled on the left edge in attack without Lawrence but Head Coach Tim Sheens has warned supporters not to expect fireworks in his first game back.
“I’m not putting pressure on Chris. He has had more than a three month layoff so you are not going to ask him to score four tries. I just want him to do his job out there,” Sheens said.
“He will bring some strength to the side and speed to the left edge. We can’t expect the world from him.
“Physically, yet alone, psychologically, he is going to have to work hard. He has done everything at training and has been extremely good.
“We have held him back. He could have played two weeks ago but we were not prepared to do so. We used the bye to help bring him up.
“I am very happy with where he is at. He is too. He will still need to get through the first few tackles and make the first couple of runs before he is confident.”
Sheens said he would also use prop Todd Payten in limited spells as he makes a welcome return from a knee injury following a successful stem cell operation.
“Todd will be playing limited minutes but he will contribute at some stage. We are not expecting the world from Toddy,’’ Sheens added.
“There will be 2-3 short spells from Todd but that will bring him back over the next week or two to where we want him.”
Captain Robbie Farah said Lawrence’s return from injury has had a positive impact on the team.
“Chris has been a massive loss for us. He has worked really hard on getting back from his injury,’’ Farah said.
“He is 100 per cent ready to go. I know he is excited and we are excited to have him back.”
