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Dragons' fire fuels Moltzen
exclusive Adrian Proszenko
April 1, 2012
TIM MOLTZEN has opened up about his Dragons dramas, revealing his parents couldn't even attend the grudge match at Kogarah because of the ''inappropriate'' behaviour of St George Illawarra fans.
Moltzen earned the ire of Dragons officials and supporters over his decision to remain at Wests Tigers, despite agreeing to switch joint-venture clubs last year. The Tigers eventually won the tug of war but the situation caused bad blood between the rivals, which spilled over in an spiteful encounter a fortnight ago.
The utility back kept a dignified silence throughout the controversy but opened up in the countdown to his team's crucial encounter against South Sydney today.
''It was pretty hard. I'd prepared myself for it, I knew it was coming,'' Moltzen told The Sun-Herald. ''Obviously their fans are pretty diehard and pretty full on. There were a few things that were disappointing.
''Obviously my parents didn't come to the game, it was too hard for them to go to, which is understandable. I expected that from the fans but some of the things they did and said were pretty inappropriate.
''I was keen to get that game over and done with and it is now. I'll put it to bed and not worry about it.''
Dragons players admitted the dramas had fired them up before the match, which they won convincingly, and club officials are keeping their legal options open. There are even suggestions the Dragons won't release Illawarra Cutters captain Ray Cashmere to the Tigers due to the ill feeling over the Moltzen situation.
Moltzen said most of the sledging he copped came from the stands rather than from the opposition.
''Not so much from the players, they were pretty good,'' he said. ''It was more drummed up by the media, that's what all the hype was around. Everyone in rugby league was having their say. The best thing about it was we could play footy and not have to worry about what other people are saying.''
Asked if he would do anything differently, the 23-year-old replied: ''I don't know. In the game? We probably should have won it. What's done is done. I wish [the Dragons] the best. It was tough circumstances and obviously I didn't want it to play out the way it did but it did.
''These things happen. I've moved on and I'm sure they've moved on, they're playing some good footy. So all the best to them.''
The Country Origin utility's future is again unclear. Off contract at the end of the season, there has been speculation he could switch to rugby for the NSW Waratahs. However, that won't be happening.
''No, I don't think so,'' he said. ''It was tossed up during the year and I haven't done much media, I haven't come out and said a lot. That was something that got thrown up because I hadn't been saying much, they were trying to get something out of me. It's definitely not an option. I've got a lot I want to achieve in rugby league that I haven't done at the moment, so I'll be in league for quite a while.''
His preference is to remain at the Tigers but the addition of Braith Anasta to the halves - as well as the availability of injured James Tedesco at fullback next year - has clouded his future.
''I try to say that I've not been thinking about [contract negotiations] but obviously it's something at the back of my mind,'' he said. ''For now, I'm trying to focus on playing good footy and win some games for the Tigers.''
Moltzen will wear the No.1 jersey tomorrow against the Rabbitohs after coach Tim Sheens shelved his switch to the halves. ''I'd like to stick to one spot,'' he said.
exclusive Adrian Proszenko
April 1, 2012
TIM MOLTZEN has opened up about his Dragons dramas, revealing his parents couldn't even attend the grudge match at Kogarah because of the ''inappropriate'' behaviour of St George Illawarra fans.
Moltzen earned the ire of Dragons officials and supporters over his decision to remain at Wests Tigers, despite agreeing to switch joint-venture clubs last year. The Tigers eventually won the tug of war but the situation caused bad blood between the rivals, which spilled over in an spiteful encounter a fortnight ago.
The utility back kept a dignified silence throughout the controversy but opened up in the countdown to his team's crucial encounter against South Sydney today.
''It was pretty hard. I'd prepared myself for it, I knew it was coming,'' Moltzen told The Sun-Herald. ''Obviously their fans are pretty diehard and pretty full on. There were a few things that were disappointing.
''Obviously my parents didn't come to the game, it was too hard for them to go to, which is understandable. I expected that from the fans but some of the things they did and said were pretty inappropriate.
''I was keen to get that game over and done with and it is now. I'll put it to bed and not worry about it.''
Dragons players admitted the dramas had fired them up before the match, which they won convincingly, and club officials are keeping their legal options open. There are even suggestions the Dragons won't release Illawarra Cutters captain Ray Cashmere to the Tigers due to the ill feeling over the Moltzen situation.
Moltzen said most of the sledging he copped came from the stands rather than from the opposition.
''Not so much from the players, they were pretty good,'' he said. ''It was more drummed up by the media, that's what all the hype was around. Everyone in rugby league was having their say. The best thing about it was we could play footy and not have to worry about what other people are saying.''
Asked if he would do anything differently, the 23-year-old replied: ''I don't know. In the game? We probably should have won it. What's done is done. I wish [the Dragons] the best. It was tough circumstances and obviously I didn't want it to play out the way it did but it did.
''These things happen. I've moved on and I'm sure they've moved on, they're playing some good footy. So all the best to them.''
The Country Origin utility's future is again unclear. Off contract at the end of the season, there has been speculation he could switch to rugby for the NSW Waratahs. However, that won't be happening.
''No, I don't think so,'' he said. ''It was tossed up during the year and I haven't done much media, I haven't come out and said a lot. That was something that got thrown up because I hadn't been saying much, they were trying to get something out of me. It's definitely not an option. I've got a lot I want to achieve in rugby league that I haven't done at the moment, so I'll be in league for quite a while.''
His preference is to remain at the Tigers but the addition of Braith Anasta to the halves - as well as the availability of injured James Tedesco at fullback next year - has clouded his future.
''I try to say that I've not been thinking about [contract negotiations] but obviously it's something at the back of my mind,'' he said. ''For now, I'm trying to focus on playing good footy and win some games for the Tigers.''
Moltzen will wear the No.1 jersey tomorrow against the Rabbitohs after coach Tim Sheens shelved his switch to the halves. ''I'd like to stick to one spot,'' he said.
