Lui out???
- Thread starter Eye_Of_Wests_Tigers
- Start date
**Sheens taking no chances with Lui and Ellis for Cowboys round-up
GLENN JACKSON**
July 19, 2010
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WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens is set to ignore the claims of returning halfback Robert Lui against North Queensland tonight - persisting with the halves combination of Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence, which has given the team consecutive victories.
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However, Sheens is likely to call on John Skandalis, bringing the forward out of NRL retirement for the second time in two seasons.
>
**Lui has been keen to return from a knee injury and, while the half appears physically ready to return, it's believed Sheens would prefer to give the youngster another week to fully recover, given Marshall and Lawrence have performed well in the Tigers' past two matches. Lui may play in the Toyota Cup.**
>
The significance of Skandalis's return is highlighted by the fact he is the Toyota Cup conditioner.
>
Sheens brought Skandalis out of retirement to give his squad some experience midway through last season, after which he retired to take charge of the youth squad's conditioning. But Sheens had a contract registered in recent weeks after Skandalis put together some impressive performances for the Western Suburbs NSW Cup squad. While the 34-year-old played on after his comeback last year, the coach expects him to be producing more of a cameo this time. ''It will only be a short-term thing,'' Sheens said. ''I don't see him replacing youngsters. I just wanted a bit more experience.''
>
Sheens said fitness would not be a problem for Skandalis, even though he has not played an NRL match all year. ''He's probably fitter than he's ever been,'' Sheens said. ''He's the conditioner for the 20s and he's been training since the pre-season.
>
''I honestly don't think I've seen John fitter. I'm not saying that he's going to play. We've registered a deal with the NRL. If we use him, we use him, if we don't, we don't. But his experience is certainly handy around the young blokes. Whether he gets on or gets much time, I haven't determined.''
>
Skandalis may not be called upon if English second-rower Gareth Ellis returns from a groin injury. But Ellis remains an unlikely prospect.
>
''With someone of his ability, you don't want to bring him back too early. You want to make sure he is 100 per cent, which is what we are doing,'' Tigers assistant coach Peter Gentle said. ''If he does play, he will be 100 per cent.''
>
With Lui likely to miss out, Lawrence again shifts to five-eighth, with Marshall at halfback. Geoff Daniela will move into the centres, with Mitch Brown promoted from the interchange to starting centre.
>
Despite the awful form of the Cowboys, Tigers skipper Robbie Farah said his side was not underestimating them.
>
''If you start looking at the ladder and looking at teams behind you and you are thinking they are sitting in 15th position so we are going to beat them, I think that is a load of crap,'' Farah said. ''You have to prepare for every game like it is going to be another hard game in the NRL because it is. If you don't prepare that way and come out and play that way, you are going to get your pants pulled down.
>
''We have worked real hard this week on our training to make sure that doesn't happen. The Cowboys have eight or nine representative players. It is a mystery to me why their performances this year haven't been as well as they should be. They are the kind of team who you expect to click into gear at any stage and we are hoping tomorrow night that they wait one more week before they do that.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sheens-taking-no-chances-with-lui-and-ellis-for-cowboys-roundup-20100718-10g29.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
GLENN JACKSON**
July 19, 2010
>
WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens is set to ignore the claims of returning halfback Robert Lui against North Queensland tonight - persisting with the halves combination of Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence, which has given the team consecutive victories.
>
However, Sheens is likely to call on John Skandalis, bringing the forward out of NRL retirement for the second time in two seasons.
>
**Lui has been keen to return from a knee injury and, while the half appears physically ready to return, it's believed Sheens would prefer to give the youngster another week to fully recover, given Marshall and Lawrence have performed well in the Tigers' past two matches. Lui may play in the Toyota Cup.**
>
The significance of Skandalis's return is highlighted by the fact he is the Toyota Cup conditioner.
>
Sheens brought Skandalis out of retirement to give his squad some experience midway through last season, after which he retired to take charge of the youth squad's conditioning. But Sheens had a contract registered in recent weeks after Skandalis put together some impressive performances for the Western Suburbs NSW Cup squad. While the 34-year-old played on after his comeback last year, the coach expects him to be producing more of a cameo this time. ''It will only be a short-term thing,'' Sheens said. ''I don't see him replacing youngsters. I just wanted a bit more experience.''
>
Sheens said fitness would not be a problem for Skandalis, even though he has not played an NRL match all year. ''He's probably fitter than he's ever been,'' Sheens said. ''He's the conditioner for the 20s and he's been training since the pre-season.
>
''I honestly don't think I've seen John fitter. I'm not saying that he's going to play. We've registered a deal with the NRL. If we use him, we use him, if we don't, we don't. But his experience is certainly handy around the young blokes. Whether he gets on or gets much time, I haven't determined.''
>
Skandalis may not be called upon if English second-rower Gareth Ellis returns from a groin injury. But Ellis remains an unlikely prospect.
>
''With someone of his ability, you don't want to bring him back too early. You want to make sure he is 100 per cent, which is what we are doing,'' Tigers assistant coach Peter Gentle said. ''If he does play, he will be 100 per cent.''
>
With Lui likely to miss out, Lawrence again shifts to five-eighth, with Marshall at halfback. Geoff Daniela will move into the centres, with Mitch Brown promoted from the interchange to starting centre.
>
Despite the awful form of the Cowboys, Tigers skipper Robbie Farah said his side was not underestimating them.
>
''If you start looking at the ladder and looking at teams behind you and you are thinking they are sitting in 15th position so we are going to beat them, I think that is a load of crap,'' Farah said. ''You have to prepare for every game like it is going to be another hard game in the NRL because it is. If you don't prepare that way and come out and play that way, you are going to get your pants pulled down.
>
''We have worked real hard this week on our training to make sure that doesn't happen. The Cowboys have eight or nine representative players. It is a mystery to me why their performances this year haven't been as well as they should be. They are the kind of team who you expect to click into gear at any stage and we are hoping tomorrow night that they wait one more week before they do that.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sheens-taking-no-chances-with-lui-and-ellis-for-cowboys-roundup-20100718-10g29.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See, i don't think Marshall or Lawrence have performed well at all. I think they've both been 'ok' rather than solid or brilliant. Both look about as comfortable as a wedgie. Like others have said, it's been the form of Farah that has assisted in them in not coming under scrutiny. The sooner Lui is back playing more first receiver, the better. It's about getting a halves pairing that can fire in the finals….that can only happen if both men play more game time together. Every week apart is not going to help Wests cause in my opinion. Too much swapping and changing, too'ing and and throwing causes a lack of cohesion. The Tigers need all the cohesion they can get at the moment heading into the business end of the season
supercoach
Well-known member
I think you will find Fergiefurr is on the money and the marshall lawrence combo is going like a broken down bus. 2012 cant come quick enough
Eye_Of_Wests_Tigers
New member
Moving trying to move Lawrence to a ballplayer is absolutely stupid!! Why change a kid when he was finding some brilliant form out on the edges. He has to be on of the hardest players to tackle when running at speed close to the line and finds holes with regularity. It's like when Galea moved from centre to prop :S… Lui should come in if he is ready, dont stuff around with the bloody team Sheens!!
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
From Twitter:
TripleM_NRL - Robert Lui to play Toyota Cup tonight, so likely Lawrence will again play 5/8th & Marshall half in #nrl match v NQD
TripleM_NRL - Robert Lui to play Toyota Cup tonight, so likely Lawrence will again play 5/8th & Marshall half in #nrl match v NQD
steven_tiger
New member
Got told today Lui was playing 20's.
Tiger_Watto
New member
A stint in 20's might be the best option for Robert. He will have more options in attack, and might instill some much needed confidence for next week…
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
@Tiger Watto said:
It's not the best option when we have moved Lawrence to the halves to compensate.
It's ridiculous, but typical pig headed, arrogant Sheens.
Tiger_Watto
New member
I don't like the idea, but just trying to find something positive out of this looney tunes!!!
ron_burgandy
New member
the lui injury has been the biggest smoke screen in history..his knee has been fine for a few weeks now
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
If we had a proper seven and a proper six playing in their correct positions, I would not be against Lui playing Toyota Cup.
But when he moves a centre to five eighth and a five eighth to half, well that's just pathetic.
Sheens will never learn. Same failed mistakes over and over again.
But when he moves a centre to five eighth and a five eighth to half, well that's just pathetic.
Sheens will never learn. Same failed mistakes over and over again.
Tigerdave
Well-known member
why is he content with making things harder for the side? I just don't understand…... beginning of the year, Lui was the halfback right? the beginning of the year? so.... if he's fit to play in the Under 20s, why isn't he back in the side???
If IF we had been absolutely killing it with Lawrence and Benji in the halves...then no drama.....but that hasn't been happening
If IF we had been absolutely killing it with Lawrence and Benji in the halves...then no drama.....but that hasn't been happening
king_sirro
Well-known member
I think Lui needs this and for once, i agree with Sheens. Lui will be better for it next week
ron_burgandy
New member
@Glennb said:
what the hell are you talking about….mate if you cant detect the sarcasm in that post even when i posted at the end of it "LOL...JK" then god help you......
fergie is the man... infact i said fergie is ron burgandy and discussion bot rolled into one.... and FTR me and fergie regulary share info of happenings with in the tigers ranks
ron_burgandy
New member
so this is sheens thinking….
Daniela to centre, Brown to wing, Lawrence to 5/8, Marshall to 1/2 is a less a disruption then say lazarus or nicholls to 7 everyone else in their rightful position? pure brilliance from sheens again
Daniela to centre, Brown to wing, Lawrence to 5/8, Marshall to 1/2 is a less a disruption then say lazarus or nicholls to 7 everyone else in their rightful position? pure brilliance from sheens again
