Skandalis likely to come in for Payten

[alien]

<big>Skandalis likely to come in for Payten</big>
By Ben Horne, AAP September 23, 2010, 1:50 pm


Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says he's leaning towards bringing back veteran John Skandalis to replace injured forward Todd Payten in Saturday's NRL preliminary final against St George Illawarra.

The 34-year-old Skandalis retired from professional football two years ago but, despite not being part of the Tigers top 25 over the past two seasons, has still kept fit and made 19 appearances in the top grade.

Skandalis injured his buttocks in the round-25 win over Melbourne and was expected to miss the rest of the season, but it seems the evergreen prop will receive yet another call-up and a chance at a second premiership.

However his fortune comes at the expense of the experienced and in-form Payten, who badly rolled his ankle in a training mishap on Wednesday.

Payten has suffered serious ligament damage which will end his season.

Sheens is slightly concerned that Skandalis hasn't played for three weeks, but is favouring the Magpies junior over younger candidates like Ben Murdoch-Masila.

"Whether we activate Johnny Skandalis we'll wait and see," Sheens said on Thursday.

"John hasn't played for three weeks so that's a bit of an issue. I'm just looking at him, he trained strongly yesterday so that may be another option for us.

"I was relying more on the experienced forwards to carry us and do more time on the park rather than the younger ones.

"But if we have to push their time out a little bit more this week we will.

"He's a pretty fit boy John, having worked as the (under) 20s fitness coordinator this year so he's very fit, and his experience would have a major part in my decision."

 

[Gotoddy]

I am comfortable with Sheens choice of replacement. We need the experience this time of year. Though I wish he never had to make this decision in the first place. Toddy is a big loss for us.

 

[alien]

I am comfortable with Sheens choice of replacement. We need the experience this time of year. Though I wish he never had to make this decision in the first place. Toddy is a big loss for us.

its just that skando isnt 100% either and hasnt played for weeks. no doubt though if he is right to play he would give it his all since this game and the grandfinal would be his last games and he would love a 2nd premiership. he deserves it

 

[Geo]

"Whether we activate Johnny Skandalis we'll wait and see," Sheens said on Thursday.

:laughing: Where is the switch…...

Skando experience over Youth...

Which way will Sheens go I wonder?

 

[magpie_mania]

<big>skandalis likely to come in for payten</big>
by ben horne, aap september 23, 2010, 1:50 pm


wests tigers coach tim sheens says he's leaning towards bringing back veteran john skandalis to replace injured forward todd payten in saturday's nrl preliminary final against st george illawarra.

The 34-year-old skandalis retired from professional football two years ago but, despite not being part of the tigers top 25 over the past two seasons, has still kept fit and made 19 appearances in the top grade.

Skandalis injured his buttocks in the round-25 win over melbourne and was expected to miss the rest of the season, but it seems the evergreen prop will receive yet another call-up and a chance at a second premiership.

However his fortune comes at the expense of the experienced and in-form payten, who badly rolled his ankle in a training mishap on wednesday.

Payten has suffered serious ligament damage which will end his season.

Sheens is slightly concerned that skandalis hasn't played for three weeks, but is favouring the magpies junior over younger candidates like ben murdoch-masila.

"whether we activate johnny skandalis we'll wait and see," sheens said on thursday.

"john hasn't played for three weeks so that's a bit of an issue. I'm just looking at him, he trained strongly yesterday so that may be another option for us.

"i was relying more on the experienced forwards to carry us and do more time on the park rather than the younger ones.

"but if we have to push their time out a little bit more this week we will.

"he's a pretty fit boy john, having worked as the (under) 20s fitness coordinator this year so he's very fit, and his experience would have a major part in my decision."

blows a big whole in wests magpies chances aswell with skando comiing in for the tigers.its a double whammy.

 

[alien]

blows a big whole in wests magpies chances aswell with skando comiing in for the tigers.its a double whammy.

thats true but it may be fifita and murdoch on the bench instead of skando

 

[izotope]

wouldn't sheens have them all with the team anyway incase of any injuries in warm up etc..

this is a preliminary final, who gives a about state cup tbh. NRL team = priority 1

 

[alien]

wouldn't sheens have them all with the team anyway incase of any injuries in warm up etc..

this is a preliminary final, who gives a F about state cup tbh. NRL team = priority 1

fifita and murdoch were already training but i dont know if skando was.

there is an article in the local paper here this week that says skando might play in the wests magpies game on sunday but i dont know if he has been training

 

[Guest]

Not buts about it, veteran prop is champing at bit for another run
September 24, 2010

Veteran John Skandalis says he's over his torn glute muscle, and wants to help out the Wests Tigers' depleted pack, writes Glenn Jackson.

Evergreen and now ever-ready, Wests Tigers prop John Skandalis yesterday had a message for his coach Tim Sheens: ''I'm here to play if he wants me.''

Sheens conceded he was ''leaning towards'' Skandalis completing another remarkable return and replacing injured forward Todd Payten for the grand-final qualifier against St George Illawarra tomorrow night. And despite not having played for a month because of a torn glute, the NRL's longest-serving forward declared himself fit and ready to face the Dragons.

''I'm there to help out,'' Skandalis said yesterday. ''If he decides to call on me, I'll do my best to help the team out. But whoever he chooses, I'm sure he's going to do a great job.''

Skandalis has answered his coach's SOS twice in the past two seasons, but the 34-year-old still seemed set to be stranded on 249 first-grade games - for Western Suburbs and the merged Wests Tigers - after suffering the injury in round 25 against Melbourne. But after Payten rolled his ankle during Wednesday's training session, Sheens admitted Skandalis's experience made him the front-runner.

Skandalis was making a decent pitch for his own selection, too, despite the claims of youngsters Andrew Fifita, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Englishman Mark Flanagan.

''You can't buy experience, but you can't buy youth either,'' Skandalis said. ''I won't have youth - but I've definitely got enthusiasm. I love pulling on the Wests Tigers jersey.''

So confident is he in his own fitness, Skandalis - who was conditioning the Tigers' Toyota Cup side before an injury crisis prompted Sheens to call on him - said even if he did not play for the NRL side tomorrow night, he would represent the Wests Magpies in their NSW Cup preliminary final on Sunday against Canterbury.

And he has even put his hand up to play both if need be.

''If I'm not playing on Saturday, I'll be playing on Sunday,'' Skandalis said. ''I almost played [for the Magpies] last week but I just wasn't real comfortable with it.

''I wasn't quite 100 per cent - I was running at about 90 or 95 per cent so I didn't want to risk it. I thought I'd just get ready for this weekend just in case. It's 100 per cent now.''

Skandalis admitted he had yet to glean much information from the ever-coy Sheens.

''He hasn't really said too much - just to get myself prepared,'' Skandalis said. ''Everything happened so quick, unfortunately with Toddy. It was pretty devastating for him. He's been in great form for the whole year, and I have to say it's probably the best I've seen Toddy play. The guys are feeling for him. But we have to get on with the job.

''Those circumstances - you'd never wish them on any player, and I wish and hope and pray that we can get a win this weekend, and he can be back for the grand final.''

Skandalis said reaching 250 games was far from his motivation - handing the club their second grand final appearance was.

''Playing five games was a bonus for me this year,'' he said. ''I could be stuck on 244\. It's not really an issue, as long as I do what's right for the club.''

Sheens said he would assess Skandalis's fitness today, and joked: ''I can't get rid of the guy.

The coach added: ''He's the sort of guy you know you can rely on in the trenches. In a game like this, there's no doubt we're leaning there, it's just a matter of whether or not he's quite fit enough. He hasn't played for three weeks, but he trained strongly [on Wednesday]. He's a pretty fit boy. His experience would have a major part in my decision.''

Bryce Gibbs should start for the Tigers in Payten's place. Sheens might still give one of the young forwards - Fifita or Murdoch-Masila - a run off the bench, but appears not to be keen to play both of them, which would mean a likely spot for Skandalis. Fifita, who played minimal minutes against the Raiders last Friday night, and who has been named 19th man, would appear the most likely to miss out.

''All year, we've had people in and out,'' Sheens said. ''We've had to get on with it, and we have. This is just another of those instances.''

 

[tiger05]

Skando shouldn't be there. Fifita should be.

I really think that Sheens needs to realise that our forwards need to have an impact. The dragons are a real quality team and we need to give them hell in the forwards. Skando won't do that. Fifita will.

 

[Geo]

Well as far as I know Sheens named Murdoch on the bench…The article say he may go with Murdoch or Fifita to replace Payten...cant see how that is possible...One of Fifita or Murdoch will play unless Flanagan comes in

Dont worry the lucky dip draw for the bench doesn't take place until 11am Saturday...If Sheens chooses to go with Skandalis it will be for a reason....Without Payten the bench lacks experience

Experience over Youth has always been his way...It will be intersting to see how he rolls the dice come 7pm Saturday....I rate our starting pack + Dwyer, Fulton (Fifita/Murdoch/Skandalis) the equal if not better than the Dragons anyway...

It is where it will be won....led by the GARETH ARMY we will smash them...

Starting to get excited....sorry
:sign:

 

[Guest]

Skando shouldn't be there. Fifita should be.

I really think that Sheens needs to realise that our forwards need to have an impact. The dragons are a real quality team and we need to give them hell in the forwards. Skando won't do that. Fifita will.

Fifita will also get lazy and caught out in marker defence which will cost the Tigers. Skando is fitter and I'd be inclined to go with his experience in this match. Fifita hasn't had an impact in attack over the last 3 weeks against quality opposition.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

Well as far as I know Sheens named Murdoch on the bench…The article say he may go with Murdoch or Fifita to replace Payten...cant see how that is possible...One of Fifita or Murdoch will play unless Flanagan comes in

Dont worry the lucky dip draw for the bench doesn't take place until 11am Saturday...If Sheens chooses to go with Skandalis it will be for a reason....Without Payten the bench lacks experience

Experience over Youth has always been his way...It will be intersting to see how he rolls the dice come 7pm Saturday....I rate our starting pack + Dwyer, Fulton (Fifita/Murdoch/Skandalis) the equal if not better than the Dragons anyway...

It is where it will be won....led by the GARETH ARMY we will smash them...

Starting to get excited....sorry
:sign:

Murdoch is untested and out of his depth. Fifita is proven and is breathing FIRE.

We need Fifita and Skandalis on that bench.

 

[system]

So breathing fire is shirt grabbing from amrker and making ineffective hitups? If so than thats a good sign on the Dragons possible failure

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Skandalis hasn't played for three weeks. That concerns me.

 

[MGB]

You gotta take into accounts Fafita's entire game, not just a few impressive patches here and there, the guy has unlimited potential but still has a ways to go.

I'd personally be going with Skando, like the article says you cannot buy experience.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

So breathing fire is shirt grabbing from amrker and making ineffective hitups? If so than thats a good sign on the Dragons possible failure

Does not Chris Lawrence 'shirt grab' ?
Does not Robert Lui 'shirt grab' ?
Does not Blake Ayshford 'shirt grab' ?

Positives outweigh the negatives for Fifita. If he is the weakest link on our bench then I will settle for that.

 

[Spartan117]

People can hardly contain themselves I see - we're all optimistic for this game that were are realistically not expected to win - I see a bench with Fifita and Skando with BEN MM missing out.

 

[mike]

You gotta take into accounts Fafita's entire game, not just a few impressive patches here and there, the guy has unlimited potential but still has a ways to go.

I'd personally be going with Skando, like the article says you cannot buy experience.

Unfortunately potential does not win games. I'd go for Skando as well. Both off the bench and no Fitzy would be even better. Without Payten I think we need a big strong bench to beat the Dragons.

 

[system]

If he is the weakest link on our bench then I will settle for that.

You don't want a weak link on your bench though. That is the point I am making. That goes for Fitzy as well

The players you compared his defensive technique to are backs. That should tell you something isn't right.

If he plays than I hope he makes 150m and plays excellent marker defence and decent minutes. I just don't see it though