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I can be Wests Tigers' No.1: Humble
Ian McCullough
March 15, 2012 - 2:39PM
AAP
Tom Humble maintains he's the answer to Wests Tigers' fullback issues as the joint-venture side looks to bounce back from last week's disappointing NRL display against Manly.
Tim Sheens' side take on St George Illawarra on Friday at Kogarah still bristling from their 22-18 defeat to the injury-hit premiers.
The well-fancied Tigers have looked anything but premiership favourites in their opening two matches.
They benefited from some poor refereeing and needed a field goal in golden point to seal the points against Cronulla in round one.
And the defeat by Manly followed a poor second-half performance where they conceded 20 unanswered points in just 18 minutes.
Despite having just six NRL appearances to his name at the start of the year, Sheens has been forced to name Humble as his starting fullback following the season-ending injury for James Tedesco and his decision to play Tim Moltzen at halfback after offloading Robert Lui to North Queensland.
Humble left Parramatta in the off-season after making just six appearances in two years in a variety of positions.
The 23-year-old Queenslander admits the injury to Tedesco, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on debut against the Sharks, is not the ideal way to win a place in the team, but one he must take advantage of.
"You've go to take opportunities when they come," Humble said.
"The circumstances in how I got the spot are terrible. But I can't feel sorry for anyone otherwise that will lead to my demise."
Humble has been solid rather than spectacular in his first two games and knocked on in front of his own posts when under no pressure to gift-wrap Manly their first try at Gosford last Friday.
However, he insists he's still getting to grips with the Tigers' style and will improve with the more time he spends on the field.
"I'm still getting used to the way the Tigers play and at fullback it's the best spot to learn," he said.
"At Parra, I played at fullback, five-eighth, hooker, centre and a few off the bench.
"But at this stage of my career I need to lock myself into one spot and that is fullback."
A poor start to the second half may have cost the Tigers against Manly, but the Dragons were woeful for the full 80 minutes against Canterbury on Saturday.
The Bulldogs ran out comfortable 30-4 winners at ANZ Stadium and veteran utility Dean Young revealed the performance was so bad, coach Steve Price has binned the video tape of the match.
"Pricey has chucked it out and told us to move on," Young said.
"We're more worried about ourselves and our start than thinking about the Tigers.
"We were awful from the start against the Bulldogs and let everyone down."
Ian McCullough
March 15, 2012 - 2:39PM
AAP
Tom Humble maintains he's the answer to Wests Tigers' fullback issues as the joint-venture side looks to bounce back from last week's disappointing NRL display against Manly.
Tim Sheens' side take on St George Illawarra on Friday at Kogarah still bristling from their 22-18 defeat to the injury-hit premiers.
The well-fancied Tigers have looked anything but premiership favourites in their opening two matches.
They benefited from some poor refereeing and needed a field goal in golden point to seal the points against Cronulla in round one.
And the defeat by Manly followed a poor second-half performance where they conceded 20 unanswered points in just 18 minutes.
Despite having just six NRL appearances to his name at the start of the year, Sheens has been forced to name Humble as his starting fullback following the season-ending injury for James Tedesco and his decision to play Tim Moltzen at halfback after offloading Robert Lui to North Queensland.
Humble left Parramatta in the off-season after making just six appearances in two years in a variety of positions.
The 23-year-old Queenslander admits the injury to Tedesco, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on debut against the Sharks, is not the ideal way to win a place in the team, but one he must take advantage of.
"You've go to take opportunities when they come," Humble said.
"The circumstances in how I got the spot are terrible. But I can't feel sorry for anyone otherwise that will lead to my demise."
Humble has been solid rather than spectacular in his first two games and knocked on in front of his own posts when under no pressure to gift-wrap Manly their first try at Gosford last Friday.
However, he insists he's still getting to grips with the Tigers' style and will improve with the more time he spends on the field.
"I'm still getting used to the way the Tigers play and at fullback it's the best spot to learn," he said.
"At Parra, I played at fullback, five-eighth, hooker, centre and a few off the bench.
"But at this stage of my career I need to lock myself into one spot and that is fullback."
A poor start to the second half may have cost the Tigers against Manly, but the Dragons were woeful for the full 80 minutes against Canterbury on Saturday.
The Bulldogs ran out comfortable 30-4 winners at ANZ Stadium and veteran utility Dean Young revealed the performance was so bad, coach Steve Price has binned the video tape of the match.
"Pricey has chucked it out and told us to move on," Young said.
"We're more worried about ourselves and our start than thinking about the Tigers.
"We were awful from the start against the Bulldogs and let everyone down."
