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Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter is contemplating shifting Tim Moltzen back into the halves to partner teenager Luke Brooks next year.
Before the Tigers’ return to training on Monday, Potter spoke of his desire to play James Tedesco at fullback for the joint venture club next year, considering moving Moltzen into the No.6 jersey alongside Brooks in the halves.
Moltzen, who missed most of last season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Brisbane in round seven, is expected to be fully fit for round one.
The 25-year-old is no stranger to the halves, having played most of his juniors in the ball-playing positions, and appears to have the jump ahead of teenager Mitchell Moses for the Tigers’ No.6 jersey.
Moses, who has played most of his junior football alongside Brooks in the halves, is coming back from injury and, despite possessing plenty of talent, isn’t considered big enough to make the transition to the NRL just yet.
“Mitch is not fit at the moment and he’s slight of frame, so he has to put a bit of meat on his frame,” Potter said. "[We’re looking at] probably Braith [Anasta] and Blake Austin … and Tim Moltzen, even.
“Tim Moltzen is naturally a halfback/five-eighth type player. We have James Tedesco, who is playing with Italy at the moment, but I thought he had an enormous season, given we ran 15th. He’s probably looking at the No. 1 spot so Tim Moltzen is definitely an option at No.6.”
After a stunning debut against St George Illawarra at the SCG, Tigers fans have huge expectations on Brooks to help change their fortunes in the post-Benji Marshall era.
Potter is expected to start Brooks in the No.7 jersey in opening round, impressed by what he saw from the 18-year-old in his first and only NRL showing in round 24.
“If Luke’s ready to play, he’ll be ready to play,” Potter said. "If he plays half a season or a full season or three-quarters of a season, it will be solely up to how his performance is and how he’s going.
"If it gets too much, he might need a week back. You look back at that game [against the Dragons] and it was a high pressure game for both teams. He went out and played like he had no care in the world.
“He didn’t seem to be fazed, he didn’t seem to be anxious. He had time, he kicked the ball well, he ran the ball well, he defended good. It was a really good debut. I was really happy for him at the time and really happy for the future of the Wests Tigers.”
The Tigers have signed Canterbury’s Dene Halatau and Martin Taupau, and Austin from Penrith, as well as Pat Richards, Cory Paterson and Keith Lulia from the English Super League.
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All good.
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Outside of Brooks I could see Moltzen being very useful to be honest. As a runner and link man with Brooks as the dominant playmaker.
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Braith, Austin and Moltzen were always going to be our options heading into round 1, so no one freak out….please?
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@LaT:
Braith, Austin and Moltzen were always going to be our options heading into round 1, so no one freak out….please?
1 day later, 6 pages on the halves.
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No argument from me. Gives Moltzen a great chance to grab the spot and Anasta can work on his swing.
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Picking from Moltzen ,Anasta and Austin is like picking between Glenn McGrath or Jim Higgs as an opening batsman for Australia
For you young folk , Jim Higgs is the only Batsman to complete a full Ashes tour and not score a run
Honestly who do you pick , heaps of weaknesses ,very few strengths
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if anasta has the confidence of the playing group as well as farah, i think he should be the no.6
having someone of braith’s experience outside him could fill brooks with so much confidence.
moltzen would be my 2nd choice and moses would be the last one atm.
if moltz wasn’t coming off a knee reco- he’d be the first one picked in the no.6
edit: forgot austin… depends on how hard he works in the pre season. seems a selfish player from a couple of games… wouldn’t be my first choice at all.
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Our ceo confirmed on the radio we will be signing a marquee signing for 2015 season.
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Am I the only one that sees potential in Moltzen as a centre?
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Our ceo confirmed on the radio we will be signing a marquee signing for 2015 season.
WOW big news, how can we do that so early though? So the player would play all of 2014 knowing he is leaving. Seems weird.
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Our ceo confirmed on the radio we will be signing a marquee signing for 2015 season.
It’ll be Benji coming back
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@happy tiger:
Our ceo confirmed on the radio we will be signing a marquee signing for 2015 season.
It’ll be Benji coming back
thanks mate.
another sleepless night filled with nightmares.
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@happy tiger:
Our ceo confirmed on the radio we will be signing a marquee signing for 2015 season.
It’ll be Benji coming back
thanks mate.
another sleepless night filled with nightmares.
Better that than counting sheep bro
