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Moltzen mans up without Marshall
April 27, 2013
Michael Chammas
Rugby league reporter
Tim Moltzen has never played halfback without Benji Marshall alongside him, but his record at No.7 suggests he could make a permanent move into the halves.
The Wests Tigers have won 10 of their 14 games with Moltzen at halfback, but against Brisbane at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night, Moltzen will have to do it on his own.
He has spent most of his career at fullback but is no stranger to the halves, having played plenty of junior footy as a playmaker. He had been earmarked as the Tigers' long-term No.7 when he guided the club to five straight wins alongside Marshall in 2009, but former coach Tim Sheens saw him best suited at fullback.
However, injuries to Marshall and Braith Anasta have forced new coach Mick Potter to reshuffle, with Moltzen and Curtis Sironen handed the challenge of taking on Brisbane's experienced halves duo of Peter Wallace and Scott Prince.
''It felt pretty good,'' Moltzen said of the move after training. ''There's some things to work on, but it felt good and comfortable. It's not a new position to me. We'll try and get back to basics, directing the team around and try to let young Siro work his magic.''
In Moltzen's first five games at halfback in the NRL, the Tigers went on a five-game unbeaten streak, including a 54-20 thrashing of South Sydney in his debut appearance at halfback back in round 17 of 2009.
While Moltzen's move to halfback is a solution to their injury woes, it has also given Potter the opportunity to move James Tedesco into his favoured fullback position. Tedesco, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in his debut game in round one last year, has been playing on the wing this year before earning selection for City Origin in the No.1 jersey after Jarryd Hayne withdrew from the match.
With senior voices Marshall and Anasta missing through injury, Moltzen understands a lot of responsibility falls on his shoulders to ensure the team follows the game plan.
''It's just about having the authority and speaking up when you need to, especially for the big boys,'' he said. ''When we get tired, we probably get a little bit lost. It's about sticking to the structure and getting the boys to where we need … so we can execute the plays.''
Meanwhile, the club has signed Pat Richards on a two-year contract from next year. Richards was a member of the 2005 Wests Tigers premiership side, but left the club that year to join Wigan.
April 27, 2013
Michael Chammas
Rugby league reporter
Tim Moltzen has never played halfback without Benji Marshall alongside him, but his record at No.7 suggests he could make a permanent move into the halves.
The Wests Tigers have won 10 of their 14 games with Moltzen at halfback, but against Brisbane at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night, Moltzen will have to do it on his own.
He has spent most of his career at fullback but is no stranger to the halves, having played plenty of junior footy as a playmaker. He had been earmarked as the Tigers' long-term No.7 when he guided the club to five straight wins alongside Marshall in 2009, but former coach Tim Sheens saw him best suited at fullback.
However, injuries to Marshall and Braith Anasta have forced new coach Mick Potter to reshuffle, with Moltzen and Curtis Sironen handed the challenge of taking on Brisbane's experienced halves duo of Peter Wallace and Scott Prince.
''It felt pretty good,'' Moltzen said of the move after training. ''There's some things to work on, but it felt good and comfortable. It's not a new position to me. We'll try and get back to basics, directing the team around and try to let young Siro work his magic.''
In Moltzen's first five games at halfback in the NRL, the Tigers went on a five-game unbeaten streak, including a 54-20 thrashing of South Sydney in his debut appearance at halfback back in round 17 of 2009.
While Moltzen's move to halfback is a solution to their injury woes, it has also given Potter the opportunity to move James Tedesco into his favoured fullback position. Tedesco, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in his debut game in round one last year, has been playing on the wing this year before earning selection for City Origin in the No.1 jersey after Jarryd Hayne withdrew from the match.
With senior voices Marshall and Anasta missing through injury, Moltzen understands a lot of responsibility falls on his shoulders to ensure the team follows the game plan.
''It's just about having the authority and speaking up when you need to, especially for the big boys,'' he said. ''When we get tired, we probably get a little bit lost. It's about sticking to the structure and getting the boys to where we need … so we can execute the plays.''
Meanwhile, the club has signed Pat Richards on a two-year contract from next year. Richards was a member of the 2005 Wests Tigers premiership side, but left the club that year to join Wigan.
