Bazzinator
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* Christian Nicolussi
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* June 23, 2010 12:00AM
New kid in town … Blake Lazarus is expected to play halfback for the Tigers. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
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TIGERS officials don't want to shift Robbie Farah to halfback on Friday, fearing it would crucify his chances to dislodge NSW hooker Michael Ennis from the Blues team for Origin III.
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The Tigers are facing a halfback crisis with Robert Lui named at No.7 yesterday but next to no chance of playing the Dragons.
>
Back-up options Tim Moltzen has a season-ending knee injury and Arana Taumata this week left to join the Cowboys, which leaves Blake Lazarus the frontrunner.
>
To make matters worse, new fullback recruit Wade McKinnon - one of five players who did not train yesterday - is also racing the clock to beat a hip injury.
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Coach Tim Sheens will give Lui every chance to overcome a knee injury, but The Daily Telegraph understands shifting Farah from hooker to halfback was quickly shelved.
>
A starring performance by Farah at No. 9 will all but assure him Ennis's Blues jumper for the dead rubber against Queensland.
>
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Interestingly, Farah also failed to train because of a corked shin but won't miss the trip to Kogarah.
>
Sheens said the short week had done none of his players any favours and Lui would be given plenty of time to prove his fitness.
>
"Robbie has a bit of a leg injury - he took a bump to the knee - there's no ligament issues, but we're just waiting for it to settle down," Sheens said.
>
"We will give him until the last minute to get ready, and if he doesn't make it I've got a couple of other options. In the next 24 hours I'll have a better idea. I'm not going to get ahead of myself. We're unlikely to consider Robbie [Farah] there."
>
Chris Heighington (hip), McKinnon and Lote Tuqiri (knee) failed to train yesterday, but Sheens said it was precautionary.
>
Sheens was delighted his Tigers had won four in a row, but did not see the Dragons clash as a guide to how well his side was travelling.
>
"I don't think this will be a defining week for us because there are still 11 weeks to go and I wouldn't think any side is in semi-finals form," Sheens said.
>
"Every team is up and down. Maybe the Dragons are just more consistent than most other teams at the moment, but they are in a similar position to us.
>
"They played Sunday and were involved in a bruising game [against the Sharks] and may or may not have some issues in their camp."
>
In brighter news for the Tigers, giant prop Keith Galloway survived his first-up hitout against Canberra and will start up front on Friday.
>
Farah was one of several players who last night joined their partners at Concord Oval for a cooking promotion with last year's MasterChef winner, Julie Goodwin, to help promote this weekend's Women in League round.
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* June 23, 2010 12:00AM
New kid in town … Blake Lazarus is expected to play halfback for the Tigers. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
>
TIGERS officials don't want to shift Robbie Farah to halfback on Friday, fearing it would crucify his chances to dislodge NSW hooker Michael Ennis from the Blues team for Origin III.
>
The Tigers are facing a halfback crisis with Robert Lui named at No.7 yesterday but next to no chance of playing the Dragons.
>
Back-up options Tim Moltzen has a season-ending knee injury and Arana Taumata this week left to join the Cowboys, which leaves Blake Lazarus the frontrunner.
>
To make matters worse, new fullback recruit Wade McKinnon - one of five players who did not train yesterday - is also racing the clock to beat a hip injury.
>
Coach Tim Sheens will give Lui every chance to overcome a knee injury, but The Daily Telegraph understands shifting Farah from hooker to halfback was quickly shelved.
>
A starring performance by Farah at No. 9 will all but assure him Ennis's Blues jumper for the dead rubber against Queensland.
>
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
>
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
>
Interestingly, Farah also failed to train because of a corked shin but won't miss the trip to Kogarah.
>
Sheens said the short week had done none of his players any favours and Lui would be given plenty of time to prove his fitness.
>
"Robbie has a bit of a leg injury - he took a bump to the knee - there's no ligament issues, but we're just waiting for it to settle down," Sheens said.
>
"We will give him until the last minute to get ready, and if he doesn't make it I've got a couple of other options. In the next 24 hours I'll have a better idea. I'm not going to get ahead of myself. We're unlikely to consider Robbie [Farah] there."
>
Chris Heighington (hip), McKinnon and Lote Tuqiri (knee) failed to train yesterday, but Sheens said it was precautionary.
>
Sheens was delighted his Tigers had won four in a row, but did not see the Dragons clash as a guide to how well his side was travelling.
>
"I don't think this will be a defining week for us because there are still 11 weeks to go and I wouldn't think any side is in semi-finals form," Sheens said.
>
"Every team is up and down. Maybe the Dragons are just more consistent than most other teams at the moment, but they are in a similar position to us.
>
"They played Sunday and were involved in a bruising game [against the Sharks] and may or may not have some issues in their camp."
>
In brighter news for the Tigers, giant prop Keith Galloway survived his first-up hitout against Canberra and will start up front on Friday.
>
Farah was one of several players who last night joined their partners at Concord Oval for a cooking promotion with last year's MasterChef winner, Julie Goodwin, to help promote this weekend's Women in League round.
