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DOUBLE BLOW TO WESTS TIGERS U20S TEAM
By Wayne Cousins
18/05/2010 11:45:23 AM
The high flying and exciting Wests Tigers U20s team has suffered a double blow with dynamic wingers Sama Sauvao and Faleula Finau to miss the next few weeks through injury.
Finau has crossed for 10 tries in seven matches and Sauvao (pictured) nine tries from eight matches this season. Both rate highly for most line breaks in the team.
The superb 24-13 victory over Souths at the SCG on Sunday that saw the U20s team stretch its winning streak to seven consecutive matches in the Toyota Cup has come at a price. Wests Tigers sit second on the ladder with seven wins from nine matches.
Sauvao is expected to be out for the next three weeks with an ankle injury while Finau suffered a dislocated shoulder. Scans this week will determine the extent of the injury.
Wests Tigers Coach Grant Jones said it was a major blow to lose his wingers.
“Sama has been part of the side for the past two years and has hardly missed a game. He scored 12 tries from 21 matches last year,’’ Jones said.
“He can play wing, full-back and centre so he has got that utility value. He was happy to move back to full-back on Sunday after we lost Jake Mullaney 90 minutes before kick-off with tonsillitis.
“Sama is just a quiet achiever. He never misses a training session, always gives 100 per cent and is always smiling.
“He never misses an opportunity. If there is a try on, he will take it.
“Even on the weekend, Souths put a little kick through and Sama picked it up unbelievably from his ankles. You expect that from him. Sama has the best hands in the Toyota Cup competition. He sets himself high standards.
“Sama and Faleula have scored just under half of our tries and they are great with the yardage plays. Their dummy half runs are always close to 100 metres per game.
“Faleula scored a try against the Bulldogs where he got out of dummy half and raced 50 to 60 metres.
“He can score tries from anywhere on the field. He has really settled in and made that position his own on the right wing.”
Jones has called up Monikura Tikinau to play left wing and Dayne Craig (right wing) for this Friday night’s away match against Newcastle Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
“Dayne is a good kid. He has done all of the extras and has just been waiting for an opportunity,’’ Jones said.
“He has been playing for East Campbelltown in the Bundaberg Cup. He is a high percentage kid who is very reliable.
“Monikura played 13 games for us last year and always did a good job. He is very strong and will be good for us. He got a good try against Souths on the weekend to get us back in the game.
“You don’t want to lose anyone but we are fortunate enough to have good depth in this team.”
By Wayne Cousins
18/05/2010 11:45:23 AM
The high flying and exciting Wests Tigers U20s team has suffered a double blow with dynamic wingers Sama Sauvao and Faleula Finau to miss the next few weeks through injury.
Finau has crossed for 10 tries in seven matches and Sauvao (pictured) nine tries from eight matches this season. Both rate highly for most line breaks in the team.
The superb 24-13 victory over Souths at the SCG on Sunday that saw the U20s team stretch its winning streak to seven consecutive matches in the Toyota Cup has come at a price. Wests Tigers sit second on the ladder with seven wins from nine matches.
Sauvao is expected to be out for the next three weeks with an ankle injury while Finau suffered a dislocated shoulder. Scans this week will determine the extent of the injury.
Wests Tigers Coach Grant Jones said it was a major blow to lose his wingers.
“Sama has been part of the side for the past two years and has hardly missed a game. He scored 12 tries from 21 matches last year,’’ Jones said.
“He can play wing, full-back and centre so he has got that utility value. He was happy to move back to full-back on Sunday after we lost Jake Mullaney 90 minutes before kick-off with tonsillitis.
“Sama is just a quiet achiever. He never misses a training session, always gives 100 per cent and is always smiling.
“He never misses an opportunity. If there is a try on, he will take it.
“Even on the weekend, Souths put a little kick through and Sama picked it up unbelievably from his ankles. You expect that from him. Sama has the best hands in the Toyota Cup competition. He sets himself high standards.
“Sama and Faleula have scored just under half of our tries and they are great with the yardage plays. Their dummy half runs are always close to 100 metres per game.
“Faleula scored a try against the Bulldogs where he got out of dummy half and raced 50 to 60 metres.
“He can score tries from anywhere on the field. He has really settled in and made that position his own on the right wing.”
Jones has called up Monikura Tikinau to play left wing and Dayne Craig (right wing) for this Friday night’s away match against Newcastle Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
“Dayne is a good kid. He has done all of the extras and has just been waiting for an opportunity,’’ Jones said.
“He has been playing for East Campbelltown in the Bundaberg Cup. He is a high percentage kid who is very reliable.
“Monikura played 13 games for us last year and always did a good job. He is very strong and will be good for us. He got a good try against Souths on the weekend to get us back in the game.
“You don’t want to lose anyone but we are fortunate enough to have good depth in this team.”
