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by: Brent Read
From: The Australian
August 06, 2013 12:00AM
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WESTS Tigers are poised to blood at least one emerging star in Friday night's wooden spoon battle against Parramatta – but it may not be Luke Brooks.
Joel Launi, who recently signed a contract extension with the club, is set to make his first grade debut against the Eels following injury to hooker and captain Robbie Farah.
Farah dislocated a knuckle against Gold Coast on Sunday and is set to miss up to two weeks. Launi has been targeted by coach Mick Potter to fill the void, although his selection will be contingent on the club receiving a salary cap exemption from the NRL.
Brooks, who has been earmarked to play in the NRL all season, would also require a salary cap exemption but while Farah's injury has opened the door for Launi, it may close it for Brooks.
Potter may be reluctant to play the teenage halfback against the Eels given the steadying hand of Farah will not be present.
Five-eighth Benji Marshall, who is expected to announce as early as today he will join the Auckland Blues, has also been labouring this season to the point where he is under pressure to retain his place in the side. The flipside is that the Tigers are running out of games to play Brooks, who Potter is keen to give a taste of first grade this season.
It is understood the NRL has told the Tigers that it will give the club salary cap relief to play Brooks on the condition the game has no bearing on the top eight.
That means at best he can play in three games -- against the Eels, round 24 against St George Illawarra and possibly round 26 against North Queensland.
"We're going to make inquiries with the NRL," Potter said. "We have a couple of injury worries. We need to make contact with the NRL and make sure it's OK."
The Tigers have lost their past four games but that record doesn't go close to matching the hapless Eels, who have lost 10 in succession. Parramatta has won only three games all season and needs a miracle to avoid the wooden spoon but Potter is wary of underestimating his opposition.
"When you keep losing then you get closer to a win," Potter said.
"It's a dangerous game for us. I don't think they have been playing too bad as far as some of the plays they are coming up with.
"At some stage a few of the things they're doing are going to stick and create trouble for the opposition. I don't want it to be the Wests Tigers.
"I think Ricky (Stuart) has got them playing a good brand of football. As much as everyone is saying they're not going so well, we're not setting the world on fire either.''
From: The Australian
August 06, 2013 12:00AM
\
\
WESTS Tigers are poised to blood at least one emerging star in Friday night's wooden spoon battle against Parramatta – but it may not be Luke Brooks.
Joel Launi, who recently signed a contract extension with the club, is set to make his first grade debut against the Eels following injury to hooker and captain Robbie Farah.
Farah dislocated a knuckle against Gold Coast on Sunday and is set to miss up to two weeks. Launi has been targeted by coach Mick Potter to fill the void, although his selection will be contingent on the club receiving a salary cap exemption from the NRL.
Brooks, who has been earmarked to play in the NRL all season, would also require a salary cap exemption but while Farah's injury has opened the door for Launi, it may close it for Brooks.
Potter may be reluctant to play the teenage halfback against the Eels given the steadying hand of Farah will not be present.
Five-eighth Benji Marshall, who is expected to announce as early as today he will join the Auckland Blues, has also been labouring this season to the point where he is under pressure to retain his place in the side. The flipside is that the Tigers are running out of games to play Brooks, who Potter is keen to give a taste of first grade this season.
It is understood the NRL has told the Tigers that it will give the club salary cap relief to play Brooks on the condition the game has no bearing on the top eight.
That means at best he can play in three games -- against the Eels, round 24 against St George Illawarra and possibly round 26 against North Queensland.
"We're going to make inquiries with the NRL," Potter said. "We have a couple of injury worries. We need to make contact with the NRL and make sure it's OK."
The Tigers have lost their past four games but that record doesn't go close to matching the hapless Eels, who have lost 10 in succession. Parramatta has won only three games all season and needs a miracle to avoid the wooden spoon but Potter is wary of underestimating his opposition.
"When you keep losing then you get closer to a win," Potter said.
"It's a dangerous game for us. I don't think they have been playing too bad as far as some of the plays they are coming up with.
"At some stage a few of the things they're doing are going to stick and create trouble for the opposition. I don't want it to be the Wests Tigers.
"I think Ricky (Stuart) has got them playing a good brand of football. As much as everyone is saying they're not going so well, we're not setting the world on fire either.''
