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REP SELECTION CHANGES TIM MOLTZEN’S VIEW
By Wayne Cousins
2/05/2011 5:40:50 PM
Being tagged a ‘utility’ was once dreaded by rugby league players. Tim Moltzen was the same. That was until he was handed his first representative jersey courtesy of the unwanted label.
Sitting on the team bus outside Canberra Stadium on Sunday night, Moltzen was shocked when his name was read out on the Country interchange bench to play City in Albury this Friday night.
The fact Moltzen can play wing, full-back, centre and half-back made him more than a valuable option for the Country selectors.
“I suppose I was more happy about the win over Canberra. Coming off a knee injury last year, this was the furthest thing from my mind,’’ Moltzen said.
“I’m very excited. It was a bit shock as I’ve just been trying to find my feet after such a long lay-off. But I will take it with both hands.
“Being a utility is something Tim (Sheens) has always talked about. I wasn’t too comfortable with it because I wanted to cement myself a starting position. I didn’t want to be tagged a utility player who kept swapping positions.
“I suppose when I look at it now, being a utility has turned out okay. "
The rep selection comes a year after Moltzen underwent a season ending knee reconstruction. It was a cruel blow for a young man who entered 2010 off the back of a rapid rise the season before.
“Injuries are a part of our job. There were times I was really down on myself,’’ he said.
“I’m on the other side of that now and making the Country team is just another positive to go with just being back playing footy.”
Moltzen is one of six Wests Tigers players involved in the match at Albury. Close mate and fellow ‘coastie’ in Chris Heighington will pull on the Country jersey too. The pair played their junior footy on the Central Coast.
Lining up for City will be Wests Tigers team-mates Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Simon Dwyer and Liam Fulton. Farah will captain the City side for the third consecutive time.
“You always wonder how you would go against the players you play with, so it will be interesting,’’ Moltzen said.
“It could be a good thing going into the match knowing how the boys play. I definitely don’t want to be standing in front of a charging Keith Galloway or Simon Dwyer for that matter.
“You see how players come back better for the experience of playing rep footy. Liam Fulton is now more of a confident player after the All Stars. It should be a great experience.”
By Wayne Cousins
2/05/2011 5:40:50 PM
Being tagged a ‘utility’ was once dreaded by rugby league players. Tim Moltzen was the same. That was until he was handed his first representative jersey courtesy of the unwanted label.
Sitting on the team bus outside Canberra Stadium on Sunday night, Moltzen was shocked when his name was read out on the Country interchange bench to play City in Albury this Friday night.
The fact Moltzen can play wing, full-back, centre and half-back made him more than a valuable option for the Country selectors.
“I suppose I was more happy about the win over Canberra. Coming off a knee injury last year, this was the furthest thing from my mind,’’ Moltzen said.
“I’m very excited. It was a bit shock as I’ve just been trying to find my feet after such a long lay-off. But I will take it with both hands.
“Being a utility is something Tim (Sheens) has always talked about. I wasn’t too comfortable with it because I wanted to cement myself a starting position. I didn’t want to be tagged a utility player who kept swapping positions.
“I suppose when I look at it now, being a utility has turned out okay. "
The rep selection comes a year after Moltzen underwent a season ending knee reconstruction. It was a cruel blow for a young man who entered 2010 off the back of a rapid rise the season before.
“Injuries are a part of our job. There were times I was really down on myself,’’ he said.
“I’m on the other side of that now and making the Country team is just another positive to go with just being back playing footy.”
Moltzen is one of six Wests Tigers players involved in the match at Albury. Close mate and fellow ‘coastie’ in Chris Heighington will pull on the Country jersey too. The pair played their junior footy on the Central Coast.
Lining up for City will be Wests Tigers team-mates Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Simon Dwyer and Liam Fulton. Farah will captain the City side for the third consecutive time.
“You always wonder how you would go against the players you play with, so it will be interesting,’’ Moltzen said.
“It could be a good thing going into the match knowing how the boys play. I definitely don’t want to be standing in front of a charging Keith Galloway or Simon Dwyer for that matter.
“You see how players come back better for the experience of playing rep footy. Liam Fulton is now more of a confident player after the All Stars. It should be a great experience.”
