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Sheens calls on Moltzen to target NSW spot
Ian McCullough
February 9, 2012 - 3:39PM
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AAP
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has challenged Tim Moltzen to take advantage of the NSW's lack of halfback options and play himself into Ricky Stuart's squad for the 2012 State of Origin series.
The 23-year-old, who back-tracked on a decision to move to St George Illawarra late last year and stayed with the Tigers, will start the new campaign in the No.7 shirt following Robert Lui's move to North Queensland.
Sheens admitted he was hugely disappointed to see Lui depart, having spent so much time helping him develop into one of the best young playmakers in the game.
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But after Lui was charged with assaulting his girlfriend following the club's 2011 season mad Monday celebrations, and with the club under pressure from sponsors to release him, Sheens said there was little option but to move him on.
However, the veteran coach believes the versatile Moltzen, who has played mostly at fullback, can flourish in the halves alongside skipper Benji Marshall.
And he believes he should put current NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce under pressure for his place.
"With Moltzen and Marshall, we'll have the fastest halves combination in the game," Sheens told AAP.
"No other team is going to have more speed over 80 metres than that pair.
"If I'm Timmy, I'd be looking at Ricky's squad.
"He was included in his emerging Origin squad and to be able to play at seven there is a lot less opposition in that position than at fullback."
Sheens also revealed winger Lote Tuqiri could miss the first month of the season as he recovers from thumb surgery.
The former dual international will definitely sit out the first match of the season against Cronulla and possibly more as he makes slow progress in his recovery.
"He's had his thumb pinned and it is taking a bit of time," Sheens said.
"He's missed a fair bit of training and could be out for a few weeks as he gets back up to speed with the others."
Tigers' new big-money signing Adam Blair said the opportunity to line up alongside New Zealand team-mate Marshall was a factor in his decision to sign from Melbourne.
The versatile forward, who can play in the front or back row agreed to a deal worth around $500,000 a year, and admitted it was a tough decision to leave the Storm.
"It was a big decision to come here," Blair said.
"But it'll be good to play outside Benji, that was something that attracted me.
"It was also the chance to work under a great coach and also play in a side that plays an exciting brand of footy."
© 2012 AAP
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Ian McCullough
February 9, 2012 - 3:39PM
Read later
AAP
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has challenged Tim Moltzen to take advantage of the NSW's lack of halfback options and play himself into Ricky Stuart's squad for the 2012 State of Origin series.
The 23-year-old, who back-tracked on a decision to move to St George Illawarra late last year and stayed with the Tigers, will start the new campaign in the No.7 shirt following Robert Lui's move to North Queensland.
Sheens admitted he was hugely disappointed to see Lui depart, having spent so much time helping him develop into one of the best young playmakers in the game.
Advertisement: Story continues below
But after Lui was charged with assaulting his girlfriend following the club's 2011 season mad Monday celebrations, and with the club under pressure from sponsors to release him, Sheens said there was little option but to move him on.
However, the veteran coach believes the versatile Moltzen, who has played mostly at fullback, can flourish in the halves alongside skipper Benji Marshall.
And he believes he should put current NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce under pressure for his place.
"With Moltzen and Marshall, we'll have the fastest halves combination in the game," Sheens told AAP.
"No other team is going to have more speed over 80 metres than that pair.
"If I'm Timmy, I'd be looking at Ricky's squad.
"He was included in his emerging Origin squad and to be able to play at seven there is a lot less opposition in that position than at fullback."
Sheens also revealed winger Lote Tuqiri could miss the first month of the season as he recovers from thumb surgery.
The former dual international will definitely sit out the first match of the season against Cronulla and possibly more as he makes slow progress in his recovery.
"He's had his thumb pinned and it is taking a bit of time," Sheens said.
"He's missed a fair bit of training and could be out for a few weeks as he gets back up to speed with the others."
Tigers' new big-money signing Adam Blair said the opportunity to line up alongside New Zealand team-mate Marshall was a factor in his decision to sign from Melbourne.
The versatile forward, who can play in the front or back row agreed to a deal worth around $500,000 a year, and admitted it was a tough decision to leave the Storm.
"It was a big decision to come here," Blair said.
"But it'll be good to play outside Benji, that was something that attracted me.
"It was also the chance to work under a great coach and also play in a side that plays an exciting brand of footy."
© 2012 AAP
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