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Leave Sironen at six, urges his NRL dad
Joe Barton
June 16, 2012 - 12:49PM
AAP
Balmain great Paul Sironen has implored Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens to pick his son Curtis over new recruit Braith Anasta at five-eighth next season.
Sydney Roosters skipper Anasta, who faces the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, will join Sheens' playing group at the end of the season with a desire to wear the No.6, but Sironen believes that jersey belongs to his talented 18-year-old son.
Curtis Sironen, currently sidelined until round 18 with a knee injury, has made a large impression in just three games since debuting in round 12.
At 195cm he is the tallest five-eighth in the NRL and despite weighing in at 95kg he has not yet filled into his large frame.
And it is his considerable size which has some suggesting his future lies in the forwards like his old man.
But Sironen senior does not believe that change needs to be made in the immediate future - and certainly not as a necessity to accommodate Anasta.
"Long-term I don't know, I'd like to think he'd stay at six for the next few years, form warranted," Sironen told AAP.
"I threw him in there when I was a junior coach out of necessity but he's got a lovely pass and he reads the game well.
"That's why he was playing 6 in the early days. He's a footballer and I think he's got a natural instinct.
"It's not something you can just instill in a bloke. If you're a footballer you're a footballer. And I think he's got those natural instincts that allow him to have that good vision."
Regardless of how the pieces fit next year, Sironen predicted the Tigers would boast one of the most lethal attacking lineups in the competition, with Sironen junior and Anasta complimenting captain Robbie Farah, star half Benji Marshall and fullback Tim Moltzen.
"They'll fill the gaps where they have to," he said.
"With (second-rower) Gareth's (Ellis) departure and other bits and pieces, I'm sure they'll need blokes stepping up.
"I'm sure they'll slot them in everywhere and there will be plenty of options. Farah, Anasta, Marshall and the young bloke playing six. You'll have weapons across the park."
Meanwhile, Sheens admitted he is fearful of a referee backlash after the Roosters were victims of several howlers from the match officials against Brisbane last round.
Both whistleblowers from that match, Matt Cecchin and Adam Devcich, were dropped from NRL duties this week and Sheens is concerned his side may suffer from being over-scrutinised as a result.
"Our discipline in the last seven weeks has been great. I'm hoping we don't get over scrutinised by the referees given that two of them are not in first grade this weekend," Sheens told reporters on Saturday.
"I just hope that the one off controversy from last week doesn't have tomorrow's officials nervous about the game."
Joe Barton
June 16, 2012 - 12:49PM
AAP
Balmain great Paul Sironen has implored Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens to pick his son Curtis over new recruit Braith Anasta at five-eighth next season.
Sydney Roosters skipper Anasta, who faces the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, will join Sheens' playing group at the end of the season with a desire to wear the No.6, but Sironen believes that jersey belongs to his talented 18-year-old son.
Curtis Sironen, currently sidelined until round 18 with a knee injury, has made a large impression in just three games since debuting in round 12.
At 195cm he is the tallest five-eighth in the NRL and despite weighing in at 95kg he has not yet filled into his large frame.
And it is his considerable size which has some suggesting his future lies in the forwards like his old man.
But Sironen senior does not believe that change needs to be made in the immediate future - and certainly not as a necessity to accommodate Anasta.
"Long-term I don't know, I'd like to think he'd stay at six for the next few years, form warranted," Sironen told AAP.
"I threw him in there when I was a junior coach out of necessity but he's got a lovely pass and he reads the game well.
"That's why he was playing 6 in the early days. He's a footballer and I think he's got a natural instinct.
"It's not something you can just instill in a bloke. If you're a footballer you're a footballer. And I think he's got those natural instincts that allow him to have that good vision."
Regardless of how the pieces fit next year, Sironen predicted the Tigers would boast one of the most lethal attacking lineups in the competition, with Sironen junior and Anasta complimenting captain Robbie Farah, star half Benji Marshall and fullback Tim Moltzen.
"They'll fill the gaps where they have to," he said.
"With (second-rower) Gareth's (Ellis) departure and other bits and pieces, I'm sure they'll need blokes stepping up.
"I'm sure they'll slot them in everywhere and there will be plenty of options. Farah, Anasta, Marshall and the young bloke playing six. You'll have weapons across the park."
Meanwhile, Sheens admitted he is fearful of a referee backlash after the Roosters were victims of several howlers from the match officials against Brisbane last round.
Both whistleblowers from that match, Matt Cecchin and Adam Devcich, were dropped from NRL duties this week and Sheens is concerned his side may suffer from being over-scrutinised as a result.
"Our discipline in the last seven weeks has been great. I'm hoping we don't get over scrutinised by the referees given that two of them are not in first grade this weekend," Sheens told reporters on Saturday.
"I just hope that the one off controversy from last week doesn't have tomorrow's officials nervous about the game."
