gallagher
Well-known member
@GNR4LIFE said:
No, i mean in the first 2 rounds? Didn't Cherrington start with Littlejohn filing in?
Farah no chance of making Tigers v cowboys
- Thread starter Newtown
- Start date
No, i mean in the first 2 rounds? Didn't Cherrington start with Littlejohn filing in?
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Guest
Guest
@GNR4LIFE said:
I'd play JLJ at 7\. When Halatau goes off for a breather, JLJ to move to 9, Lawrence shifts to 6 and Edwards to slot in the backrow, and then reverse it all back to normal when Halatau returns in the second half. I reckon that will work.
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Brooks replacement still a mystery
Mon 01 Aug, 2016, 4:25pm
By Martin Gabor , National Correspondent , NRL.com
The Wests Tigers will head into their match against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon without Luke Brooks for the first time since Round 1, and it remains unclear as to who will replace the injured halfback for the Leichhardt Oval clash.
Brooks was ruled out for three to five weeks by the club on Sunday afternoon after scans revealed he had torn his PCL in the first half of the 23-8 win over Parramatta on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old had played every match this season since sitting out the opening round through suspension, and the mystery surrounding who will fill the void intensified after the Tigers' training session on Monday.
Robbie Farah was a notable absentee as he continues to recover from a calf injury, and appears unlikely to fight his way back into the side at halfback.
Back-rower Chris Lawrence filled in for Brooks on the weekend, and would appear to be the frontrunner to slot into the halves as a running five-eighth; a role he has fulfilled 10 times at NRL level.
Jack Littlejohn looms as another possibility after lining up at halfback in Round 1, but the 24-year-old hasn't played first grade since, while Jordan Rankin and Justin Hunt are also capable of playing in the halves.
Retiring veteran Dene Halatau assured media on Monday afternoon that he would not add to his ever-growing utility value by donning the No.7 jersey on the weekend.
He admitted the loss of Brooks would hurt the team, but was confident whoever was selected would handle the new role well.
"I'm not much of a halfback so I won't be putting my hand up to play there," Halatau said.
"Both our halves have been building and growing as players, so losing him is obviously a big loss for us, but we're confident that all the boys that are in the club know the structure and will be able to fill the role if they get called up."
Tim Grant was equally definitive in his response, telling media that coach Jason Taylor would pick "someone that can play halfback" as opposed to a prop like him.
"We've got a lot of guys at this club with a bit of utility value so there'll definitely be a few options there," Grant said.
"There are so many guys who can play there, and there's a whole heap of guys that won't be playing [there]; I'll be one of them. I think JT will look through the tapes and see what works best for us at the moment and pick who he thinks is suitable."
As much as it'll hurt not having their on-field general at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday, the Tigers can take solace in the form of five-eighth Mitchell Moses.
The 21-year-old has been in sublime touch, claiming back-to-back man-of-the-match awards against the Dragons and Eels in recent weeks.
"It'll definitely be a change, but in saying that, Mitch Moses is really hitting his straps," Grant said.
"When 'Brooksy' came off the field on the weekend he really stood up and ran the show. It gave Chris Lawrence the ability to play in the halves but also run like a back-rower as well.
"I think Mitch will do a great job this weekend and take the stress off whoever is there at halfback."
Teammate Kevin Naiqama – who plays outside of Moses on the right edge – was impressed with how the young half embraced the added pressure against the Eels, and was confident that sort of form would continue against the Cowboys.
"He got told at half-time that he was going to have to take over and step up, and I think he did a great job in leading us around and to victory in the second half," Naiqama said.
"It's a bit more responsibility on him. He likes it. He did it in Round 1 when Brooksy missed that first round. When the job is asked of him, he definitely turns up and creates a lot of opportunities."
Halatau said it was disappointing to break up the halves pairing given how well they've gelled in recent weeks, but echoed his teammates' praise of Moses's constantly-evolving game.
"I think they balance each other," he said when asked about their combination.
"Mitch has been great. His form just keeps getting better and better, but I think he's able to do that because Brooksy takes some of that pressure off. In saying that, I've got no doubt that Mitchell can handle more of a responsibility."
Mon 01 Aug, 2016, 4:25pm
By Martin Gabor , National Correspondent , NRL.com
The Wests Tigers will head into their match against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon without Luke Brooks for the first time since Round 1, and it remains unclear as to who will replace the injured halfback for the Leichhardt Oval clash.
Brooks was ruled out for three to five weeks by the club on Sunday afternoon after scans revealed he had torn his PCL in the first half of the 23-8 win over Parramatta on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old had played every match this season since sitting out the opening round through suspension, and the mystery surrounding who will fill the void intensified after the Tigers' training session on Monday.
Robbie Farah was a notable absentee as he continues to recover from a calf injury, and appears unlikely to fight his way back into the side at halfback.
Back-rower Chris Lawrence filled in for Brooks on the weekend, and would appear to be the frontrunner to slot into the halves as a running five-eighth; a role he has fulfilled 10 times at NRL level.
Jack Littlejohn looms as another possibility after lining up at halfback in Round 1, but the 24-year-old hasn't played first grade since, while Jordan Rankin and Justin Hunt are also capable of playing in the halves.
Retiring veteran Dene Halatau assured media on Monday afternoon that he would not add to his ever-growing utility value by donning the No.7 jersey on the weekend.
He admitted the loss of Brooks would hurt the team, but was confident whoever was selected would handle the new role well.
"I'm not much of a halfback so I won't be putting my hand up to play there," Halatau said.
"Both our halves have been building and growing as players, so losing him is obviously a big loss for us, but we're confident that all the boys that are in the club know the structure and will be able to fill the role if they get called up."
Tim Grant was equally definitive in his response, telling media that coach Jason Taylor would pick "someone that can play halfback" as opposed to a prop like him.
"We've got a lot of guys at this club with a bit of utility value so there'll definitely be a few options there," Grant said.
"There are so many guys who can play there, and there's a whole heap of guys that won't be playing [there]; I'll be one of them. I think JT will look through the tapes and see what works best for us at the moment and pick who he thinks is suitable."
As much as it'll hurt not having their on-field general at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday, the Tigers can take solace in the form of five-eighth Mitchell Moses.
The 21-year-old has been in sublime touch, claiming back-to-back man-of-the-match awards against the Dragons and Eels in recent weeks.
"It'll definitely be a change, but in saying that, Mitch Moses is really hitting his straps," Grant said.
"When 'Brooksy' came off the field on the weekend he really stood up and ran the show. It gave Chris Lawrence the ability to play in the halves but also run like a back-rower as well.
"I think Mitch will do a great job this weekend and take the stress off whoever is there at halfback."
Teammate Kevin Naiqama – who plays outside of Moses on the right edge – was impressed with how the young half embraced the added pressure against the Eels, and was confident that sort of form would continue against the Cowboys.
"He got told at half-time that he was going to have to take over and step up, and I think he did a great job in leading us around and to victory in the second half," Naiqama said.
"It's a bit more responsibility on him. He likes it. He did it in Round 1 when Brooksy missed that first round. When the job is asked of him, he definitely turns up and creates a lot of opportunities."
Halatau said it was disappointing to break up the halves pairing given how well they've gelled in recent weeks, but echoed his teammates' praise of Moses's constantly-evolving game.
"I think they balance each other," he said when asked about their combination.
"Mitch has been great. His form just keeps getting better and better, but I think he's able to do that because Brooksy takes some of that pressure off. In saying that, I've got no doubt that Mitchell can handle more of a responsibility."
@pHyR3 said:
Cherrington was injured at the time…ankle...
@willow said:
That sounds good so long as they're confident that JLJ will be able to run the game out if he has a spell at hooker. Maybe bench Dene between ~30 and ~50 so JLJ has a rest in the middle of his spell.
The extra forward on the bench would be handy against the Cows pack.
foreveratiger
New member
JT couldn't pick Farah at halfback anyway if he was available.
Like for like change IMO. All the best JLJ and hopefully we can get the 2 points, I'm not confident at all but one can only hope.
Like for like change IMO. All the best JLJ and hopefully we can get the 2 points, I'm not confident at all but one can only hope.
@willow said:
I like this…Ring Taylor please...Edwards can even defend in the middle....Rowdy and Littlejohn can stay on the edge...
I think no 7 has to be Moses both sides of the ruck. Lets live or die by Moses have a feeling he may be the chosen one to lead us across the Parramatta River.
JLJ should be selected however, for the Cowboys game if Thurston's out we need some size so wouldn't be against Lawrence or ET at 5/8 for some of the game.
JLJ should be selected however, for the Cowboys game if Thurston's out we need some size so wouldn't be against Lawrence or ET at 5/8 for some of the game.
gallagher
Well-known member
@willow said:
Is that what we did in the first 2 rounds?
foreverbalmain
New member
@gallagher said:
as far as I can remember cherry was the bench hooker for the first 5 or 6 rounds
edit: played 37 mins against Warriors, played 44mins against Manky, played 27 mins against Gold Coast.
Then RF came back and played 7 mins against eels and 15 against shire and hasn't been seen since.
Masterton
Well-known member
@pHyR3 said:
Yeah, Cherrington was injured last time, so I'm guessing we can't play him.
Masterton
Well-known member
Kevin Naiqama says Jason Taylor's Tiger cubs are sick of being reminded how much experience they are giving away to their NRL rivals, as a man who has played just one game for the club looms as a finals wildcard.
Already without halfback Luke Brooks for a month and unlikely to recall the out-of-favour Robbie Farah who is battling his own calf complaint, Jack Littlejohn has emerged as a stop-gap No.7 candidate to help guide the salary cap-stricken Tigers into their first finals series since 2011.
Taylor could also turn to Chris Lawrence, who moonlighted in the halves after Brooks limped off against the Eels on Saturday, or utility Jordan Rankin as mystery surrounds who will partner Mitchell Moses for the September run-in.
But Littlejohn, who started the club's first game of the season when Brooks was sidelined, could fill the void for the season-defining clash against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
"I would say [it would be hard to come in for such a big game], but he's training with us full-time all year and he only goes back to [Intrust Super Premiership] side at the end of the week," Naiqama said.
"He's familiar with our structures and he's played there at the start of the week when our halves have niggling injuries. He's got a bit of size about him and he's been going well in [reserve grade].
"If he gets picked we're more than confident he can do the job as well as he played there at the start of the year."
Brooks and Farah were confined to rehabilitation during Tigers training at Concord Oval on Monday with James Tedesco and Moses on light duties.
Former Sea Eagle Littlejohn tips the scales at a whopping 95kg for a halfback and will have a baptism of fire if he is thrown into the match against Johnathan Thurston, who is angling for a return from his own injury.
"He's big for a half," retiring hooker Dene Halatau said of Littlejohn. "He'd be 95 kilos or so … he's been playing some good football in reserve grade and played a game earlier in the year for us so he's an option.
"We saw Chrissy Lawrence go well there on the weekend so there's a number of ways the coaches will ponder over."
What is more certain within the Tigers squad is the reluctance to be branded as a "potential over performance" squad having squirmed their way into a logjam of four teams locked on 22 points on the edge of the top eight.
"We've been called the young side the last couple of years, but we're sick of being called that and we really want to give it a crack this year," Naiqama said.
"Every time you miss a year that's a year less you're going to [have the chance]. It might be your last with all these injuries we're getting now.
"For young people playing first grade sometimes it's just enough playing first grade. For these boys [like Brooks and Moses] it's not enough, they want more, and that's good for the team."
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http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/nrl-wests-tigers-kevin-naiqama-urges-time-is-now-as-luke-brooks-replacement-still-a-mystery-20160801-gqibo7.html
Already without halfback Luke Brooks for a month and unlikely to recall the out-of-favour Robbie Farah who is battling his own calf complaint, Jack Littlejohn has emerged as a stop-gap No.7 candidate to help guide the salary cap-stricken Tigers into their first finals series since 2011.
Taylor could also turn to Chris Lawrence, who moonlighted in the halves after Brooks limped off against the Eels on Saturday, or utility Jordan Rankin as mystery surrounds who will partner Mitchell Moses for the September run-in.
But Littlejohn, who started the club's first game of the season when Brooks was sidelined, could fill the void for the season-defining clash against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
"I would say [it would be hard to come in for such a big game], but he's training with us full-time all year and he only goes back to [Intrust Super Premiership] side at the end of the week," Naiqama said.
"He's familiar with our structures and he's played there at the start of the week when our halves have niggling injuries. He's got a bit of size about him and he's been going well in [reserve grade].
"If he gets picked we're more than confident he can do the job as well as he played there at the start of the year."
Brooks and Farah were confined to rehabilitation during Tigers training at Concord Oval on Monday with James Tedesco and Moses on light duties.
Former Sea Eagle Littlejohn tips the scales at a whopping 95kg for a halfback and will have a baptism of fire if he is thrown into the match against Johnathan Thurston, who is angling for a return from his own injury.
"He's big for a half," retiring hooker Dene Halatau said of Littlejohn. "He'd be 95 kilos or so … he's been playing some good football in reserve grade and played a game earlier in the year for us so he's an option.
"We saw Chrissy Lawrence go well there on the weekend so there's a number of ways the coaches will ponder over."
What is more certain within the Tigers squad is the reluctance to be branded as a "potential over performance" squad having squirmed their way into a logjam of four teams locked on 22 points on the edge of the top eight.
"We've been called the young side the last couple of years, but we're sick of being called that and we really want to give it a crack this year," Naiqama said.
"Every time you miss a year that's a year less you're going to [have the chance]. It might be your last with all these injuries we're getting now.
"For young people playing first grade sometimes it's just enough playing first grade. For these boys [like Brooks and Moses] it's not enough, they want more, and that's good for the team."
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http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/nrl-wests-tigers-kevin-naiqama-urges-time-is-now-as-luke-brooks-replacement-still-a-mystery-20160801-gqibo7.html
Tigerdave
Well-known member
Littlejohn would probably be the better option, but I would like Rankin out of the winger spot….....the club needs to keep in mind it's not just for 1 game, we need a good option for a few we have to factor worse case scenario for Brooks, so I hope we don't see Rowdy moved or Robbie at half.
larrycorowa
New member
@Geo. said:
Yes Willow, this sounds like a good plan
gallagher
Well-known member
@foreverbalmain said:
Thats right. It was in reverse. Littlejohn started at hooker and then when back to half.
Byron_Bay_Fan
New member
To me, who knows almost nothing, it sounds like playing musical chairs. I think we are only getting away with it is due to the hopelessness of the teams we have defeated and our few brilliant players.
tigerman80
Well-known member
@willow said:
I definitly agree with JLJ getting the halfback gig until Brooks comes back. I think we will get more out of JLJ if his sole focus is playing halfback. I think also the last 2 weeks have shown we definitly need a recognised hooker on the bench. So i think Cherrington must be in the team to come on when Halatau comes off. If cherrington can finish the game you can bring Halatau on in the second row in the second half. We just look disorganised with the stop gap measures at dummy half and i think this will solve it.
