G
Guest
Guest
One love: Moltzen in position to seal spot
July 17, 2012
Brad Walter
\
\
WESTS TIGERS utility Tim Moltzen told coach Tim Sheens he wanted to be the club's regular fullback during recent negotiations to extend his contract until 2015.
As revealed in the Herald earlier this month, Moltzen has agreed to terms on a new three-year deal with the Tigers that he said has enabled him to focus on his football now his future has finally been confirmed.
Moltzen, who was the centre of a war of words between the Tigers and St George Illawarra after reneging on a deal with the Dragons late last year to stay at the club he joined as an 18-year-old in 2007, admitted the controversy affected his form this season.
However, the 23-year-old central coast junior said yesterday that he was happy with how things had worked out and his goal now was to secure the Tigers No.1 jersey for years to come.
''I have spoken to the coach and it is my position to hold onto or my position to lose,'' Moltzen told the Herald. ''I have got confidence in myself and my ability that over the next three years that is a position I can make my own and hold onto, and that is what I intend to do.''
Since making his NRL debut in 2008, Moltzen has played halfback, five-eighth, fullback and centre for the Tigers, and started this season as Benji Marshall's scrumbase partner.
But Moltzen said he had decided that fullback was his preferred position and Sheens had promised him first shot at the No.1 jersey when boom rookie James Tedesco returns from a knee reconstruction next season.
''We have got some talented youngsters coming through the ranks and I guess it is up to me now to keep them at bay and hold on to that No.1 jersey. That is going to be my focus,'' he said.
''I have always said that I want to do the best by the team and if the coach asks me to move into a position then that is what I am happy to do.
''But it just makes it tough during the week at training trying to focus on certain areas. If you are changing position then it is hard to improve on certain things. I am really enjoying myself at fullback at the moment and I am hoping to finish the year off there and then I can focus in the off-season on fullback.''
After a serious knee injury last year and his contract dispute with the Dragons, Moltzen said he had now regained his confidence and believes the Tigers can win a premiership in the next four seasons he is committed to the club.
''It's good to have some security at the club I love and the chance to keep playing with some of my closest mates,'' Moltzen said ''It was tough heading out to that game at Kogarah and then losing the game made it worse. Everything that happened in the off-season got to me a little bit. I went into my shell and let it affect me, which is why I am happy with nutting this out and have a new contract.''
Meanwhile, the Tigers will welcome back international forwards Adam Blair and Gareth Ellis for Saturday night's trip to Townsville to play the Cowboys.
Blair missed his first match since joining the Tigers this season when he was banned after being found guilty of unnecessary contact with the leg of Canterbury centre Josh Morris last week, while Ellis has not played since round five due to a knee injury.
''It's always tough sitting on the sidelines watching your team play without you,'' Blair said.
''You feel pretty helpless and can't help out. It happened so quick. I got done for a leg pull but it is over now and we move on.''
Blair is no stranger to the judiciary, but the 26-year-old said he did not feel he was being picked on because of his reputation or the fact he is a former Melbourne player. The Storm have been heavily criticised for their wrestling techniques in the play-the-ball, but Blair said he has no problems with the officials.
''Refs watch everyone that plays, mine is just a name they call out along with everyone else,'' he said. ''I just try and stay away from those things. I work hard on the ground, but I got in trouble last week and I have to work harder on improving what I do.''
July 17, 2012
Brad Walter
\
\
WESTS TIGERS utility Tim Moltzen told coach Tim Sheens he wanted to be the club's regular fullback during recent negotiations to extend his contract until 2015.
As revealed in the Herald earlier this month, Moltzen has agreed to terms on a new three-year deal with the Tigers that he said has enabled him to focus on his football now his future has finally been confirmed.
Moltzen, who was the centre of a war of words between the Tigers and St George Illawarra after reneging on a deal with the Dragons late last year to stay at the club he joined as an 18-year-old in 2007, admitted the controversy affected his form this season.
However, the 23-year-old central coast junior said yesterday that he was happy with how things had worked out and his goal now was to secure the Tigers No.1 jersey for years to come.
''I have spoken to the coach and it is my position to hold onto or my position to lose,'' Moltzen told the Herald. ''I have got confidence in myself and my ability that over the next three years that is a position I can make my own and hold onto, and that is what I intend to do.''
Since making his NRL debut in 2008, Moltzen has played halfback, five-eighth, fullback and centre for the Tigers, and started this season as Benji Marshall's scrumbase partner.
But Moltzen said he had decided that fullback was his preferred position and Sheens had promised him first shot at the No.1 jersey when boom rookie James Tedesco returns from a knee reconstruction next season.
''We have got some talented youngsters coming through the ranks and I guess it is up to me now to keep them at bay and hold on to that No.1 jersey. That is going to be my focus,'' he said.
''I have always said that I want to do the best by the team and if the coach asks me to move into a position then that is what I am happy to do.
''But it just makes it tough during the week at training trying to focus on certain areas. If you are changing position then it is hard to improve on certain things. I am really enjoying myself at fullback at the moment and I am hoping to finish the year off there and then I can focus in the off-season on fullback.''
After a serious knee injury last year and his contract dispute with the Dragons, Moltzen said he had now regained his confidence and believes the Tigers can win a premiership in the next four seasons he is committed to the club.
''It's good to have some security at the club I love and the chance to keep playing with some of my closest mates,'' Moltzen said ''It was tough heading out to that game at Kogarah and then losing the game made it worse. Everything that happened in the off-season got to me a little bit. I went into my shell and let it affect me, which is why I am happy with nutting this out and have a new contract.''
Meanwhile, the Tigers will welcome back international forwards Adam Blair and Gareth Ellis for Saturday night's trip to Townsville to play the Cowboys.
Blair missed his first match since joining the Tigers this season when he was banned after being found guilty of unnecessary contact with the leg of Canterbury centre Josh Morris last week, while Ellis has not played since round five due to a knee injury.
''It's always tough sitting on the sidelines watching your team play without you,'' Blair said.
''You feel pretty helpless and can't help out. It happened so quick. I got done for a leg pull but it is over now and we move on.''
Blair is no stranger to the judiciary, but the 26-year-old said he did not feel he was being picked on because of his reputation or the fact he is a former Melbourne player. The Storm have been heavily criticised for their wrestling techniques in the play-the-ball, but Blair said he has no problems with the officials.
''Refs watch everyone that plays, mine is just a name they call out along with everyone else,'' he said. ''I just try and stay away from those things. I work hard on the ground, but I got in trouble last week and I have to work harder on improving what I do.''
