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Try-thief Fitzhenry a Tiger again
Steele Taylor | 10th February 2010
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WESTS' leading try-scorer Daniel Fitzhenry will return to the Tigers intent on recapturing the form that brought him 43 tries in 119 matches for the club.
After a two-year stint in England, the renowned try-thief will reappear for Wests this season, starting with Friday night’s trial against the North Queensland Cowboys at Walkerston.
“He went over there as a centre but played a fair bit of five-eighth and ended up playing at hooker and that’s where we’re looking to play him – as back-up for Robbie Farah,” assistant coach Peter Gentle said yesterday.
“But he can play anywhere from fullback through to hooker. There are not too many players who can do that. He’ll play a very important role for us this year.”
While club officials will be closely monitoring the 30-year-old’s comeback, they will also be keeping an eye on a number of the club’s fresh faces at aptly-named Tiger Park. Like the Cowboys, whose squad was revealed on Friday, the Tigers will field a relatively unknown line-up in the trial.
“The squad’s got a tinge of experience but there are seven young guys from Wests’ under 20 grand final team who will play in the trial,” Gentle said.
Controversial character Arana Taumata has been named on the bench after being sacked by Melbourne Storm last year.
The sacking was his fourth in four years and had many assuming his NRL career was over.
But the Tigers offered Taumata a lifeline and the talented ball-player has a chance to impress on Friday night.
“I think we got him at the right age. I think we’ve got him on the straight and narrow now,” Gentle said.
“He’s got plenty of ability and we’re expecting big things from him.”
Former City Origin representative Bryce Gibbs will lead the charge for Wests.
The 112-game Tiger is a damaging defender and it’s hoped he’ll be a rare 80-minute prop this season.
Mark Flanagan, a former Wigan loose forward, is set to make his inaugural appearance for the Tigers with a run off the bench.
Promising centre Geoff Daniela will play his first game in black, white and orange after playing at Penrith for the past two seasons.
There was 34mm of rain recorded at Dumbleton, near Walkerston, from 9am to 8pm yesterday and further showers are forecast for the next couple of days.
However, QRL Northern Division chairman Greg Sutherland said he was confident the match would go ahead, saying Tiger Park was one of the best grounds in the region for coping with rain.
Steele Taylor | 10th February 2010
*
*
*
*
WESTS' leading try-scorer Daniel Fitzhenry will return to the Tigers intent on recapturing the form that brought him 43 tries in 119 matches for the club.
After a two-year stint in England, the renowned try-thief will reappear for Wests this season, starting with Friday night’s trial against the North Queensland Cowboys at Walkerston.
“He went over there as a centre but played a fair bit of five-eighth and ended up playing at hooker and that’s where we’re looking to play him – as back-up for Robbie Farah,” assistant coach Peter Gentle said yesterday.
“But he can play anywhere from fullback through to hooker. There are not too many players who can do that. He’ll play a very important role for us this year.”
While club officials will be closely monitoring the 30-year-old’s comeback, they will also be keeping an eye on a number of the club’s fresh faces at aptly-named Tiger Park. Like the Cowboys, whose squad was revealed on Friday, the Tigers will field a relatively unknown line-up in the trial.
“The squad’s got a tinge of experience but there are seven young guys from Wests’ under 20 grand final team who will play in the trial,” Gentle said.
Controversial character Arana Taumata has been named on the bench after being sacked by Melbourne Storm last year.
The sacking was his fourth in four years and had many assuming his NRL career was over.
But the Tigers offered Taumata a lifeline and the talented ball-player has a chance to impress on Friday night.
“I think we got him at the right age. I think we’ve got him on the straight and narrow now,” Gentle said.
“He’s got plenty of ability and we’re expecting big things from him.”
Former City Origin representative Bryce Gibbs will lead the charge for Wests.
The 112-game Tiger is a damaging defender and it’s hoped he’ll be a rare 80-minute prop this season.
Mark Flanagan, a former Wigan loose forward, is set to make his inaugural appearance for the Tigers with a run off the bench.
Promising centre Geoff Daniela will play his first game in black, white and orange after playing at Penrith for the past two seasons.
There was 34mm of rain recorded at Dumbleton, near Walkerston, from 9am to 8pm yesterday and further showers are forecast for the next couple of days.
However, QRL Northern Division chairman Greg Sutherland said he was confident the match would go ahead, saying Tiger Park was one of the best grounds in the region for coping with rain.
