Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has warned the New South Wales State of Origin camp it is in danger of losing Chris Heighington if the Blues don’t give the star back-rower a run.
Heighington was the star of a dramatic Tigers’ come-from-behind 18-8 win over Canberra at a packed Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
And Sheens revealed the busy forward is considering taking up an offer to play for Great Britain as he owns a British passport.
"They will lose him to the Poms if they don’t give him a go," Sheens cautioned.
"He is too good a player not to come into consideration for Origin."
Hooker Robbie Farah, himself snubbed by NSW selectors, added: "Chris isn’t getting an opportunity here so you couldn’t blame him (for looking to England)."
"He has been our best player for the past two years."
The Tigers trailed 8-6 late in a thrilling clash before over 19,000 fans at their Leichhardt field of dreams before snatching victory with two late tries.
"That was our most disappointing loss of the year," a shattered Canberra coach David Furner said.
"We had our chances but couldn’t quite make them count – we got over the line three times and were denied tries."
Sheens has told his players they must lift their game to have any hope of beating premiership pacesetters St George Illawarra next Friday night.
"We have won four in a row but did it tough today," Sheens said.
"We created plenty of chances but our finishing was poor.
"Fortunately our scrambling defence kept us in the hunt but we will need to go a lot better on Friday night or the Dragons will blow us off the park
Heighington was the star of a dramatic Tigers’ come-from-behind 18-8 win over Canberra at a packed Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
And Sheens revealed the busy forward is considering taking up an offer to play for Great Britain as he owns a British passport.
"They will lose him to the Poms if they don’t give him a go," Sheens cautioned.
"He is too good a player not to come into consideration for Origin."
Hooker Robbie Farah, himself snubbed by NSW selectors, added: "Chris isn’t getting an opportunity here so you couldn’t blame him (for looking to England)."
"He has been our best player for the past two years."
The Tigers trailed 8-6 late in a thrilling clash before over 19,000 fans at their Leichhardt field of dreams before snatching victory with two late tries.
"That was our most disappointing loss of the year," a shattered Canberra coach David Furner said.
"We had our chances but couldn’t quite make them count – we got over the line three times and were denied tries."
Sheens has told his players they must lift their game to have any hope of beating premiership pacesetters St George Illawarra next Friday night.
"We have won four in a row but did it tough today," Sheens said.
"We created plenty of chances but our finishing was poor.
"Fortunately our scrambling defence kept us in the hunt but we will need to go a lot better on Friday night or the Dragons will blow us off the park