'YOUNG BULLS' READY TO STAND UP

[Guest]

'YOUNG BULLS' READY TO STAND UP
By Wayne Cousins
7/03/2012 5:02:44 PM

Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens is more than confident his ‘young bulls’ Aaron Woods and Matt Groat will stand up against Manly on Friday night.

The loss of Australian Test prop Keith Galloway with a toe injury has led to Sheens naming the two NYC graduates in his starting side for the clash at Bluetongue Stadium.

Manly’s props Jason King and Brent Kite have played 429 NRL games between them compared to the combined 37 played by Woods and Groat.

“They be the youngest pairing I’ve put on the field for a long, long time, if not the youngest pairing,’’ Sheens said.

“It is a big test but I am very comfortable with where both boys finished last year and how they have started this year.

“The off season they have had has been tremendous and that’s been a big improvement particularly for young Groat who had less games last year than Woods.

“I’m pretty comfortable. I’m looking forward actually to seeing the two young bulls go up against the experienced men up there.”

Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah has been impressed by Groat’s effort over summer.

“He’s a lot fitter than he was last year and playing long minutes,’’ Farah said.

“Both those boys (Woods and Groat) gained a lot of experience last year and got through a whole year of first grade.

“No doubt it’s going to be a massive challenge for them coming up against season campaigners Manly has in the front row but they won’t take a backward step and I’m sure they’ll be up for it.”

 

[matty_tiepie]

Got to love Groats ( or Igor as i call him ) he and woods have really improved.

 

[Guest]

JUNIOR SYSTEM BRINGS ON TALENTED PROPS
By Wayne Cousins
7/03/2012 5:02:20 PM

The emergence of talented young props like Aaron Woods is down to education and a fine junior system according to Tim Sheens.

Woods burst onto the NRL scene last season, playing 24 first grade matches after graduating from the NYC competition.

His front row partner for Friday night's round two clash against Manly is 20-year-old Matt Groat who made his NRL debut in round 12 last year after playing in the NYC.

Sheens said more young props were getting a start in first grade today than previous years due to a number of factors.

“The players are matured these days and there is no scrimmaging. You don’t have to win the ball because it is a non contested situation particularly for the front row,’’ Sheens said.

“They are better educated than they were in the old days. The schoolboys system, the junior league system, the junior rep season, the 20s competition, means they are much, much better prepared than what a player of my era of the 70s or 80s.

"We would have to know what they know now by the age of 25\. These guys know by the age of 20.

“Physically they are more mature because of the full-time professional football. The ‘Y’ generation seem a lot more confident than the ‘G’ generation that has gone by.

“A lot is expected of them but most times they deliver.”

 

[cunno]

Regardless of how advanced 'Y' generation props may be compared to their predecessors, first grade experience must count for something and the young blokes are going to come up against that experience against Manly. They will have their work cut out for them, they will give their all I'm sure, I will be interested to see how Sheens' view holds up in practice, fingers crossed.

 

[glenbo]

I'm fairly sure im not the only one on this site that thinks one of the "young bulls" will be sitting to start the game there's is no way Sheens wont go with Blair in the front row with Woods, with Fulton moving to lock and Heighno into the second row….