Tigers spotlight turns on Rowe

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Tigers spotlight turns on Rowe
By Matt Encarnacion, Western Sydney Correspondent
NRL.com
3:50pm Tue 27th May, 2014
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Wests Tigers fullback Kurtis Rowe has averaged 104 metres per game since making his debut in Round 6\. .

Not everyone at the Wests Tigers is upset at losing one of the game's brightest young prospects.

The kid filling in for the kid who is Canberra-bound at the end of the season was wisely re-signed by the club last year until the end of 2015\. But Kurtis Rowe has intentions on sticking around Concord for a lot longer than that, and he hopes he's shown enough over the past six weeks to prove it.

With James Tedesco announcing a three-year deal with the Raiders on Tuesday, the spotlight now turns onto the 20-year-old Rowe, who has spotted in admirably while Canberra's new signing recovers from an ankle injury suffered against Manly back in Round 5.

"I've felt very fortunate to have six games under my belt now. It's been a big step up from playing state cup at the start of the year and I'm real grateful that I have this opportunity. Hopefully I take it with both hands. I feel like I've been playing well," Rowe told NRL.com.

"It's everything I thought it'd be and more. A lot harder than what I usually played at. You have to be a lot smarter, you have to be a lot faster. But I've been really enjoying it. I've had a lot of support from the boys here. From that first game I played, I've just been eager to play more each week."

Along with James Gavet (hamstring), Dene Halatau (ankle) and Liam Fulton (back), Tedesco is in line to make the trip to Newcastle next Sunday. But Rowe hopes he has given coach Mick Potter enough of a headache to think twice about dropping him back to NSW Cup – and he'll have Tedesco to thank for doing so.

"Teddy's taught me a lot in the role playing fullback in the top grade. It's unfortunate for him with his injuries, but I knew when I had my shot that I just wanted to keep it there. I'll do my best to stay in the team," he said.

Tedesco's decision now means the club turns its attention to whether Rowe, who crossed for 38 tries in 45 games in the under-20s, is their long-term solution at fullback.

Another injured custodian, Tim Moltzen, is still sidelined indefinitely with a knee injured suffered during the pre-season. His contract also expires at the end of next season.

In Rowe's favour is his combination with halfback Luke Brooks. While Tedesco and Brooks showed some exciting on-field chemistry during the Auckland Nines, Rowe had actually spent more time alongside the Tigers' chief playmaker.

"I've played more games playing in the under-20s comp with Brooksy," Rowe said. "I felt a lot more comfortable making my debut playing off Brooksy because we had a good combination happening in the under-20s."

Rowe, who represented Australian Schoolboys in 2011 and the Junior Kiwis in 2013, said he had based his game on Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater.

"I want to be that type of fullback. Billy's the ultimate professional. I look at all the little things he does, like getting to the ball on the full. He's fit and fast," he said.

 

[Milky]

Goodluck, hope you can make it your own. Really tough and wish him the best, certainly didn't let us down in the past few games, just needs a bit of size and aggression.

 

[alexaki]

Look at how Tede$co played last year and compare him to Rowe's performances so far…they are on par...Tede$co was not brilliant last year....just solid.

I say give Rowe 12 months then assess him....he has speed...just needs more confidence, experience and a bit of bulk (like Tede$co) did this year.

 

[hobbo]

I like what I've seen of Rowe in his last few games
Was he a gun in the 20's comp ?
He seems to have some sort of x-factor about him ? Potters got a few decisions to make in the coming weeks !

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_

 

[dazza65]

Look at how Tede$co played last year and compare him to Rowe's performances so far…they are on par...Tede$co was not brilliant last year....just solid.

I say give Rowe 12 months then assess him....he has speed...just needs more confidence, experience and a bit of bulk (like Tede$co) did this year.

Great point ….

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_

 

[system]

Look at how Tede$co played last year and compare him to Rowe's performances so far…they are on par...Tede$co was not brilliant last year....just solid.

I say give Rowe 12 months then assess him....he has speed...just needs more confidence, experience and a bit of bulk (like Tede$co) did this year.

A fullback who does not run courage lines through the ruck is as useful as two gloves is to Jack Newton in terms of the modern game

 

[pacman]

"While Tedesco and Brooks showed some exciting on-field chemistry during the Auckland Nines"
Lol Brooks didn't even attend the Auckland Nines

 

[Defiant]

Good luck to him. Just needs a bit more size which I guess will come with age.

We have been lucky the last year not having to worry about the bombs getting dropped.

 

[PYMBLEPETE]

Let's not be delusional. Rowe is nowhere near Tedesco's class. Sure he will improve, as he has in the five games played. And I will say he has been good under the high ball. But he's just not big enough, just not fast enough and just not running into situations often enough to score tries. My preference is Moses long term but happy to see Simona given a shot.

 

[pHyR3]

it took a while for teddy to start making breaks consistently. i know he was recovering from an ACL but the biggest problem that caused him was a lack of confidence. similar problem facing Rowe.

Put in teddy for now, but work on developing both Moltz and Rowe this season. If its clear they aren't long term replacements we can examine buying a good winger and nofo/simona slot into fullback or just buy a fullback (not too many on the market).

 

[jirskyr]

Look at how Tede$co played last year and compare him to Rowe's performances so far…they are on par...Tede$co was not brilliant last year....just solid.

I say give Rowe 12 months then assess him....he has speed...just needs more confidence, experience and a bit of bulk (like Tede$co) did this year.

A fullback who does not run courage lines through the ruck is as useful as two gloves is to Jack Newton in terms of the modern game

Too true.

Rowe is a good lad, but unless something dramatic changes, he doesn't have what it takes to be anything other than an average first-grader. We need more than average.

Moltzen has the same problem; footy is made up of two types of moments: the planned and the unplanned. You can do all the prep and video work you want, but the reality is that footy is often won or lost based on how you react to the unplanned. In these situations, impulse, intuition and instinct take over from planning.

What separates the best players from the rest is that their instinct attenuates their core fears, their hesitation, their reluctance. Things are done automatically without self-preservation.

Rowe runs the footy like he is afraid of being smashed. He passes well before the line, because he doesn't want to be blind-sided. Timmy Moltzen has always done the same, fear of making a mistake or getting hurt. Half the reason commentators go ape for Brooks is because he is not afraid to take on the line, get belted for his troubles.

Greg Inglis does not do this, he does not hesitate, give up or drop his head. Besides the physical attributes he is blessed with, he has ultra-competitiveness running through his veins. That is why Tim Simona poleaxed him this year, but that is why he is a great. That is why you throw him the footy when the stakes are high.

 

[supercoach]

Our backline stocks are low and we have very little in the way of cap space to rectify the problem. You need a top notch no1 to succeed and Rowe is not ever going to be that player. He will do a job for us but lacks the x factor.

 

[Joel Helmes]

Stick with him, I think he will keep improving and seems to have a great attitude.

 

[yeti]

Stick with him, I think he will keep improving and seems to have a great attitude.

Yeah, I agree. A bit too early to be making a call on Rowe's potential in my opinion. I'm very happy with what he a produced so far and am prepared to give him another 12 months before defining whether or not he'll make it as a top notch number 1\. He's only 20 years old for crying out loud.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Look at how Tede$co played last year and compare him to Rowe's performances so far…they are on par...Tede$co was not brilliant last year....just solid.

I say give Rowe 12 months then assess him....he has speed...just needs more confidence, experience and a bit of bulk (like Tede$co) did this year.

A fullback who does not run courage lines through the ruck is as useful as two gloves is to Jack Newton in terms of the modern game

Too true.

Rowe is a good lad, but unless something dramatic changes, he doesn't have what it takes to be anything other than an average first-grader. We need more than average.

Moltzen has the same problem; footy is made up of two types of moments: the planned and the unplanned. You can do all the prep and video work you want, but the reality is that footy is often won or lost based on how you react to the unplanned. In these situations, impulse, intuition and instinct take over from planning.

What separates the best players from the rest is that their instinct attenuates their core fears, their hesitation, their reluctance. Things are done automatically without self-preservation.

Rowe runs the footy like he is afraid of being smashed. He passes well before the line, because he doesn't want to be blind-sided. Timmy Moltzen has always done the same, fear of making a mistake or getting hurt. Half the reason commentators go ape for Brooks is because he is not afraid to take on the line, get belted for his troubles.

Greg Inglis does not do this, he does not hesitate, give up or drop his head. Besides the physical attributes he is blessed with, he has ultra-competitiveness running through his veins. That is why Tim Simona poleaxed him this year, but that is why he is a great. That is why you throw him the footy when the stakes are high.

Exactly!

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[Irvine]

Yep I say stick with Rowe his kinda a smaller younger version of Tedesco anyhow.

 

[Newtown]

Stick with him, I think he will keep improving and seems to have a great attitude.

Yeah, I agree. A bit too early to be making a call on Rowe's potential in my opinion. I'm very happy with what he a produced so far and am prepared to give him another 12 months before defining whether or not he'll make it as a top notch number 1\. He's only 20 years old for crying out loud.

Does "stick with him" mean keep selecting him in firsts or drop him to play fullback in State Cup. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Knuckles]

Drop him to seconds until Teddy leaves … Won't do him any harm.

 

[laufoofan]

Give Rowe the patience we have given Tedesco, I am sure he will have other quality that will compensate the speed of his predecessor. I can see that his game has already improve. With a few more months under his belt and a bit more weight on him will help him with his cause.