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New Wests Tigers recruit Eddy Pettybourne has no complaints about moving into the front row as the club deals with the loss of representative prop Keith Galloway for up to four months due to a pectoral muscle tear.
Galloway will undergo surgery on Wednesday after scans confirmed initial fears when he came from the field just after half-time in Sunday’s 28-18 defeat of Penrith at Campbelltown Stadium.
There was better news for the Tigers on Monday, when rookie halfback Jacob Miller was cleared of anything more serious than a sprained right ankle. The 20-year-old is expected to be named for Friday night’s match against Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval. Aaron Woods is expected to move into the starting side in place of Galloway, but Pettybourne said he was prepared to play in the front row to help cover the loss.
‘‘I will play anywhere in the 17; it is a good feeling to be in the team,’’ Pettybourne said. ‘‘I am usually a back-rower but playing front row is getting back to my roots.’’
AdvertisementPettybourne, who joined the Tigers from South Sydney, was thrust into the front row in his first match with the club after Galloway’s injury, and said he enjoyed the role.
‘‘I didn’t get on until the second half but it was good, so hopefully I can get a bit more time next week,’’ he told the club’s website.
‘‘I thought that I needed to prove a point but I guess I still have a lot to work on. I just want to get better every week. First of all, I have to work on my defence, probably just working as a team and getting used to the front row.’’
Meanwhile, former Canberra and Penrith centre Adrian Purtell says he was overwhelmed by the standing ovation he received on returning to competitive rugby league for Bradford Bulls, 10 months after a heart attack.
The 28-year-old came off the bench on Sunday to rapturous applause that briefly stopped the game against Hull Kingston Rovers in the first half. He played out the match, which the Bulls won 34-12. Purtell had not played since being taken ill after Bradford’s defeat by Leeds in May last year.
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Gallaway gone for four months
God help us
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Its funny that for all the criticism the pack copped pre-season here, and as much as it sucks to lose Galloway so early and for so long, that Woods, Pettybourne, BMM and Buchanan now look like an unlikely yet pretty solid forward pack. Buchanan is a outstanding addition to the ranks, BMM seems to have finally grown into his boots, Pettybourne running with fire, and Woods needs no explaining. I hope all 3 of our injured forwards recover well, though barring any more bad luck on the injury front the 4 we have going still are a fair enough mob.
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I am a bit concerned with how many minutes we will get out of Eddy though, I know he can stay out there but will it hurt his overall performance?
Guess we will find out, either way I’m sure he won’t let us down.
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who’ll replace eddy on the bench?
thompson is suspended for 2 more weeks i think
a back on the bench?
maybe a rookie 2nd rower? -
@Black’n’White:
Its funny that for all the criticism the pack copped pre-season here, and as much as it sucks to lose Galloway so early and for so long, that Woods, Pettybourne, BMM and Buchanan now look like an unlikely yet pretty solid forward pack. Buchanan is a outstanding addition to the ranks, BMM seems to have finally grown into his boots, Pettybourne running with fire, and Woods needs no explaining. I hope all 3 of our injured forwards recover well, though barring any more bad luck on the injury front the 4 we have going still are a fair enough mob.
We have a decent bunch of players to choose from to give us a good forward pack. Galloway is a huge loss but Pettybourne is a good replacement.
The issue is choosing Anasta and Fulton as the starting second row.
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@Black’n’White:
Its funny that for all the criticism the pack copped pre-season here, and as much as it sucks to lose Galloway so early and for so long, that Woods, Pettybourne, BMM and Buchanan now look like an unlikely yet pretty solid forward pack. Buchanan is a outstanding addition to the ranks, BMM seems to have finally grown into his boots, Pettybourne running with fire, and Woods needs no explaining. I hope all 3 of our injured forwards recover well, though barring any more bad luck on the injury front the 4 we have going still are a fair enough mob.
This and next up for me is Soni passi and Nathan Brown before we look outside we have to give young options within before we look outside.
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This and next up for me is Soni passi and Nathan Brown before we look outside we have to give young options within before we look outside.
Absolutely.
My pecking order ATM is: Ava Seumanufagai, Soni Paasi, Nathan Brown.
:sign:
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After reading the title to this thread, I just got a mental image of Steady Eddie trying to play footy. Not pretty…
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This and next up for me is Soni passi and Nathan Brown before we look outside we have to give young options within before we look outside.
Absolutely.
My pecking order ATM is: Ava Seumanufagai, Soni Paasi, Nathan Brown.
:sign:
Yes momentarily forgot about big Ava.
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I’d love to see Sonni Passi……he is a very angry man.
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is he playing state cup even Sonni?
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is he playing state cup even Sonni?
Wests Tigers website says he’s back from a shoulder injury round 3
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I believe sirro won’t be playing nrl for a few weeks, NSW Cup or holden cup according to pottsy. I’d be uncomfortable throwing him in the deep in so soon anyway, let him get some match fitness back first.
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We need to blood these new guys so its not such a huge stepup when the time comes due to poor form or injuries. Not sure what some of the guys are like, but if the forum approve them, who am I to dissagree.
