NYC PREVIEW: BIG PACK CONCERNS TODD PAYTEN
By Wayne Cousins
24/03/2012 1:57:04 PM
Wests Tigers face their stiffest test to date in the NYC competition when they tackle Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Monday night.
Like the second placed Wests Tigers, the Raiders have won 2 of their 3 matches in the NYC. Wests Tigers go into the match on the back of a 28-10 win over St George-Illawarra last Friday night.
Wests Tigers NYC Coach Todd Payten said Canberra are a dangerous outfit.
“They are a bigger side than most in the competition so in order to counteract that, we’ll need to put their bigger guys under more pressure,’’ Payten said.
“To do that we need to look for quick play the balls and get their bigger guys to make back to back tackles.
“They have a dangerous half back, Mitch Cornish, as well a very big front rower in Shannon Boyd. We’ll need to work hard to stop both of them.
“Their five-eighth, Jake Wighton, is also an extremely talented player but he has been playing first grade for the last two weeks on the wing and been doing well.
“Across the park, their side is pretty experienced from last year so we’ll have our work cut out if we are to beat them.”
Payten said his side must focus on their completion rate.
“Against the Dragons we completed 15 from 17 sets in the second half and we’ll need to repeat that performance again if we’re to beat the Raiders,’’ he added.
Payten has pleased with the progress of five-eighth Manaia Rudolph.
The former rugby player is equal leading pointscorer in the NYC heading into this weekend. Rudolph has scored 4 tries and kicked 12 (from 19) goals for a total of 40 points in three rounds.
“Manaia has had very little experience in rugby league and has plenty still to learn. We are really only scratching the surface with the kid,’’ Payten said.
“(Half-back) Jacob Miller takes a lot of the pressure off him and directs the side and is the main voice in the team. They complement each other well.”
