Masterton
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tigers-looking-to-buy-backup-20130323-2gmkn.html
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter says the injury-riddled club may have to go to the market to scour for reinforcements amid fears Marika Koroibete's foot injury could be worse than first suspected.
Koroibete limped off Leichhardt Oval in Friday night's win over Parramatta and club medicos thought he may have suffered a similar injury to the one which sidelined Gareth Ellis for three months last year. The Fijian winger had scans on the injury on Saturday and is hoping for good news.
The Tigers already have a bulging casualty ward which includes props Keith Galloway, Matt Groat and James Gavet, while Mosese Fotuaika died in tragic circumstances just as a first-grade call-up appeared within reach. The joint-venture club is short of wingers with Lote Tuqiri, Matt Utai and, possibly, Koroibete all battling ailments.
Potter said he had never experienced the bizarre bad luck of having so many injuries confined to two key positions. The only positive injury news was the return of Curtis Sironen to the bench in the National Youth Competition.
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''We need some front-rowers,'' he said. ''We've got some young blokes who are doing a good job for us in Ava [Seumanufagai] and Jack Buchanan. But eventually it's going to wear them down. We just need to bolster our [broader] squad up as well. We'll have to find something in the short term.''
Potter said none of his troops were expected back next week and he was sweating on the scan results for Koroibete. ''I'm hoping for the best but you never know with these foot injuries; they could be mild, they could be long term,'' he said.
''Just the way he limped off the field, he's a tough character and he wouldn't have come off if there wasn't something wrong with him.
''Maybe in three weeks we might have Matt Groat back on board, but he'll have to work his way back in. I'm hopeful with him, so we'll wait and see. He's coming back from a foot injury as well.''
The Tigers overcame a disappointing Eels side, the win all but sealed when Benji Marshall caught the defence napping with a quick tap. Replays suggested the Kiwi playmaker's foot may not have made contact with the ball in a play which changed the momentum of the game.
The victory was the second in succession for the Tigers, but Potter warned a repeat performance would not be good enough against in-form Manly on Thursday. ''We improved a little bit but geez, we've got some work to do,'' he said.
''With Manly and the Storm over the next couple of weeks, they are top class. They don't have dips.''
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter says the injury-riddled club may have to go to the market to scour for reinforcements amid fears Marika Koroibete's foot injury could be worse than first suspected.
Koroibete limped off Leichhardt Oval in Friday night's win over Parramatta and club medicos thought he may have suffered a similar injury to the one which sidelined Gareth Ellis for three months last year. The Fijian winger had scans on the injury on Saturday and is hoping for good news.
The Tigers already have a bulging casualty ward which includes props Keith Galloway, Matt Groat and James Gavet, while Mosese Fotuaika died in tragic circumstances just as a first-grade call-up appeared within reach. The joint-venture club is short of wingers with Lote Tuqiri, Matt Utai and, possibly, Koroibete all battling ailments.
Potter said he had never experienced the bizarre bad luck of having so many injuries confined to two key positions. The only positive injury news was the return of Curtis Sironen to the bench in the National Youth Competition.
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''We need some front-rowers,'' he said. ''We've got some young blokes who are doing a good job for us in Ava [Seumanufagai] and Jack Buchanan. But eventually it's going to wear them down. We just need to bolster our [broader] squad up as well. We'll have to find something in the short term.''
Potter said none of his troops were expected back next week and he was sweating on the scan results for Koroibete. ''I'm hoping for the best but you never know with these foot injuries; they could be mild, they could be long term,'' he said.
''Just the way he limped off the field, he's a tough character and he wouldn't have come off if there wasn't something wrong with him.
''Maybe in three weeks we might have Matt Groat back on board, but he'll have to work his way back in. I'm hopeful with him, so we'll wait and see. He's coming back from a foot injury as well.''
The Tigers overcame a disappointing Eels side, the win all but sealed when Benji Marshall caught the defence napping with a quick tap. Replays suggested the Kiwi playmaker's foot may not have made contact with the ball in a play which changed the momentum of the game.
The victory was the second in succession for the Tigers, but Potter warned a repeat performance would not be good enough against in-form Manly on Thursday. ''We improved a little bit but geez, we've got some work to do,'' he said.
''With Manly and the Storm over the next couple of weeks, they are top class. They don't have dips.''
