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FARAH SAYS IMPROVEMENT NEEDED IN FOUNDATION CUP
By Wayne Cousins
25/02/2011 11:18:15 AM
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah is adamant his team must turn in a solid performance against the Sydney Roosters tomorrow night as part of their build up to the season kick-off in a fortnight’s time.
Speaking ahead of the annual Foundation Cup clash at the Sydney Football Stadium, Farah says it was important the team improved on their ordinary trial performance against Parramatta last weekend.
“It is the final trial for both teams tomorrow night. Both teams are going to come out and treat it as if it is a comp game,’’ Farah said.
“We are disappointed in the way we played last week. We don’t want to finish on another bad performance heading into round 1.
“We are as close to full strength as we can be tomorrow and hopefully we can build some momentum going into the first (premiership) game against the Bulldogs.
“It would be nice to win the Foundation Cup. The Roosters have won four in a row. Hopefully we can win one sooner rather than later. Tomorrow night would be good.”
Farah admitted to not having good memories of the last time Wests Tigers played at the SFS, losing to the Roosters in an epic qualifying final in golden point extra time.
“It’s a new season, a fresh start. Hopefully what happened last year, not only against the Roosters, but the way we exited the competition will spur us on this year,’’ Farah said.
“We know we are not too far away. We have a similar squad to last year. The boys have been putting in the hard work at training over the off season so hopefully we have prepared well enough and put ourselves into a position come the end of the year.”
Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens said the Foundation Cup is developing a bit of a history between the two clubs.
“It will be more than just your average trial. I’m not sure whether it will be up there with NRL level yet (in terms of intensity),’’ Sheens said.
“We still have a few guys who I would like to have in Gareth Ellis, Todd Payten and Beau Ryan playing. They are on par for possibly being back round 1, maybe round 2.”
Sheens said he was working on strategies to come to terms with the new laws or interpretations with the referees. He also said he would slowly ease utility Tim Moltzen into the game in his first match back from a season ending knee injury.
“Twenty penalties last week is miles too many. We have got to work hard on the discipline. No injuries and a good hit out, that’s what we are looking for,’’ Sheens added.
“Tim is going well. I am not going to give him a full game so we will see how he goes. It is unfortunate for Tim that he hurt his ankle at training three weeks ago that set him back a bit otherwise he would have played some time last week.
“We will take it easy with him this week. He is going to be slower in coming back during the competition. I am not going to throw him in the deep end at this point.”
The Foundation Cup kicks-off at 7.30pm. An U20s trial match between the two clubs will be played at 5.30pm. The Foundation Cup will not be televised or broadcasted on radio.
Foundation Cup History
2007: Sydney Roosters 10 d Wests Tigers 4, SFS,Crowd: 16, 198.
2008: Sydney Roosters 34 d Wests Tigers 28, SFS, Crowd 15,197
2009: Sydney Roosters 16 d Wests Tigers 12, SFS, Crowd 8716
2010: Sydney Roosters 28 d Wests Tigers 10, SFS, Crowd 10,281.
By Wayne Cousins
25/02/2011 11:18:15 AM
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah is adamant his team must turn in a solid performance against the Sydney Roosters tomorrow night as part of their build up to the season kick-off in a fortnight’s time.
Speaking ahead of the annual Foundation Cup clash at the Sydney Football Stadium, Farah says it was important the team improved on their ordinary trial performance against Parramatta last weekend.
“It is the final trial for both teams tomorrow night. Both teams are going to come out and treat it as if it is a comp game,’’ Farah said.
“We are disappointed in the way we played last week. We don’t want to finish on another bad performance heading into round 1.
“We are as close to full strength as we can be tomorrow and hopefully we can build some momentum going into the first (premiership) game against the Bulldogs.
“It would be nice to win the Foundation Cup. The Roosters have won four in a row. Hopefully we can win one sooner rather than later. Tomorrow night would be good.”
Farah admitted to not having good memories of the last time Wests Tigers played at the SFS, losing to the Roosters in an epic qualifying final in golden point extra time.
“It’s a new season, a fresh start. Hopefully what happened last year, not only against the Roosters, but the way we exited the competition will spur us on this year,’’ Farah said.
“We know we are not too far away. We have a similar squad to last year. The boys have been putting in the hard work at training over the off season so hopefully we have prepared well enough and put ourselves into a position come the end of the year.”
Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens said the Foundation Cup is developing a bit of a history between the two clubs.
“It will be more than just your average trial. I’m not sure whether it will be up there with NRL level yet (in terms of intensity),’’ Sheens said.
“We still have a few guys who I would like to have in Gareth Ellis, Todd Payten and Beau Ryan playing. They are on par for possibly being back round 1, maybe round 2.”
Sheens said he was working on strategies to come to terms with the new laws or interpretations with the referees. He also said he would slowly ease utility Tim Moltzen into the game in his first match back from a season ending knee injury.
“Twenty penalties last week is miles too many. We have got to work hard on the discipline. No injuries and a good hit out, that’s what we are looking for,’’ Sheens added.
“Tim is going well. I am not going to give him a full game so we will see how he goes. It is unfortunate for Tim that he hurt his ankle at training three weeks ago that set him back a bit otherwise he would have played some time last week.
“We will take it easy with him this week. He is going to be slower in coming back during the competition. I am not going to throw him in the deep end at this point.”
The Foundation Cup kicks-off at 7.30pm. An U20s trial match between the two clubs will be played at 5.30pm. The Foundation Cup will not be televised or broadcasted on radio.
Foundation Cup History
2007: Sydney Roosters 10 d Wests Tigers 4, SFS,Crowd: 16, 198.
2008: Sydney Roosters 34 d Wests Tigers 28, SFS, Crowd 15,197
2009: Sydney Roosters 16 d Wests Tigers 12, SFS, Crowd 8716
2010: Sydney Roosters 28 d Wests Tigers 10, SFS, Crowd 10,281.
