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Gibbs itching to return to help team reach the top
Brad Walter
August 23, 2010
WESTS TIGERS prop Bryce Gibbs plans to make a shock return from a fractured kneecap before the finals to help his team realise their pre-season goal of winning the minor premiership.
After winning nine of their past 12 matches, the Tigers are second on the NRL ladder, only two points behind St George Illawarra with two rounds to play before the finals. While the Dragons would have to lose their remaining matches and the Tigers would need to win their two for that to happen, Gibbs said the players' goal all season had been to finish on top of the competition ladder and they hadn't yet given up hope.
''That's been our goal all year,'' he said. ''We wanted to win the minor premiership. The boys all believe in it so we all said it. We've talked about it all year, even when we weren't going so well.''
The tough Tigers front-rower also hasn't given up hope on a quick recovery from an injury that was only detected after he complained of a sore leg when he visited the club doctor about a back problem that forced him out of last Sunday's game against Penrith at half-time.
''I don't know, it depends on how it pulls up this week,'' he said. ''I don't even remember doing it. I just had an X-ray and there was a fracture.
''I thought that would be the season but the doc was pretty positive about it - he said two or three weeks. I'm not sure about this week but I might be able to put a needle in it to play.''
Asked about Gibbs's injury, Tigers coach Tim Sheens said: ''I think Bryce will give himself a chance to play this week. Read his twitter site and you will find out before I do.''
Before yesterday's game against the Eels Gibbs had tweeted: ''Today will be a easy win for the Tigers … never seen us train as good as yday!!'' This prompted Andrew Johns and Luke Ricketson to warn on radio before the match that his comments could backfire.
But last night Gibbs said he was unconcerned. ''I knew we were going to win,'' he said.
''I thought when Luke Burt was lining up that shot at goal it was going to come back and bite me on the arse but the boys trained pretty well all week so I was always confident.''
In the absence of Gibbs, fellow prop Todd Payten played an outstanding game and Sheens said he thought he was man of the match.
However, Payten said rookie halfback Robbie Lui deserved the praise for the Tigers' performance.
''I think the key over the next few weeks is going to be our half, Robert Lui. He finally understands how important he is to us and that he belongs in the side. He just needs to bark at the forwards and lead them round the park,'' Payten said.
''A couple of us forwards just told him that that's what we want him to do. If we're not doing what he wants he needs to be getting into us. It's hard for him, I understand that … he's got Benji outside him wanting the ball. But when he understands how important he is for us and takes it with both hands, we're going to be all right.''
Brad Walter
August 23, 2010
WESTS TIGERS prop Bryce Gibbs plans to make a shock return from a fractured kneecap before the finals to help his team realise their pre-season goal of winning the minor premiership.
After winning nine of their past 12 matches, the Tigers are second on the NRL ladder, only two points behind St George Illawarra with two rounds to play before the finals. While the Dragons would have to lose their remaining matches and the Tigers would need to win their two for that to happen, Gibbs said the players' goal all season had been to finish on top of the competition ladder and they hadn't yet given up hope.
''That's been our goal all year,'' he said. ''We wanted to win the minor premiership. The boys all believe in it so we all said it. We've talked about it all year, even when we weren't going so well.''
The tough Tigers front-rower also hasn't given up hope on a quick recovery from an injury that was only detected after he complained of a sore leg when he visited the club doctor about a back problem that forced him out of last Sunday's game against Penrith at half-time.
''I don't know, it depends on how it pulls up this week,'' he said. ''I don't even remember doing it. I just had an X-ray and there was a fracture.
''I thought that would be the season but the doc was pretty positive about it - he said two or three weeks. I'm not sure about this week but I might be able to put a needle in it to play.''
Asked about Gibbs's injury, Tigers coach Tim Sheens said: ''I think Bryce will give himself a chance to play this week. Read his twitter site and you will find out before I do.''
Before yesterday's game against the Eels Gibbs had tweeted: ''Today will be a easy win for the Tigers … never seen us train as good as yday!!'' This prompted Andrew Johns and Luke Ricketson to warn on radio before the match that his comments could backfire.
But last night Gibbs said he was unconcerned. ''I knew we were going to win,'' he said.
''I thought when Luke Burt was lining up that shot at goal it was going to come back and bite me on the arse but the boys trained pretty well all week so I was always confident.''
In the absence of Gibbs, fellow prop Todd Payten played an outstanding game and Sheens said he thought he was man of the match.
However, Payten said rookie halfback Robbie Lui deserved the praise for the Tigers' performance.
''I think the key over the next few weeks is going to be our half, Robert Lui. He finally understands how important he is to us and that he belongs in the side. He just needs to bark at the forwards and lead them round the park,'' Payten said.
''A couple of us forwards just told him that that's what we want him to do. If we're not doing what he wants he needs to be getting into us. It's hard for him, I understand that … he's got Benji outside him wanting the ball. But when he understands how important he is for us and takes it with both hands, we're going to be all right.''
