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Young Tigers stay upbeat for future despite finals heartbreak Glenn Jackson
September 27, 2010WITH seven players in their squad 22-years-old or younger, Wests Tigers stars saw enough in their preliminary final loss to St George Illawarra to predict that 2011 will be ‘‘the year of the Tiger’’.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens has encouraged the players to bottle the feeling of defeat to make the squad stronger next season and beyond.
But Sheens and his coaching staff have been encouraged by the youthful nature of the squad which took the field on Saturday night.
Of the seven players 22 or under, three - Robert Lui, Andrew Fifita and Simon Dwyer - played in last year’s Toyota Cup grand final. The youngest, Ben Murdoch-Masila, played in the Arrive Alive Cup decider, and will still be eligible for next year’s under-20s competition.
Coaches are always desperate to find the balance between youth and experience, but Sheens might have found it in one game.
Back-rower Chris Heighington was convinced the defeat would make the squad stronger. ‘‘It’s a platform for next year,’’ Heighington said. ''We know our standard now and we can take that into next season.
‘‘Obviously it’s going to be a benefit to play in semi-finals. It’s so disappointing, one game off a grand final and losing it. I’m shattered. But everyone’s got to grow stronger and build as a club.’’
Only Daniel Fitzhenry and John Skandalis will not be part of the squad next year, although the latter may still come out of retirement, given he has done so two seasons in a row.
The club will also reclaim the services of Tim Moltzen and, they hope, Taniela Tuiaki. Moltzen should be fully fit for a round-one return after knee reconstruction, while the club still holds onto some hope that Tuiaki will return to his destructive best after a horror injury run.
The club, also, did not get a great deal of game-time out of their mid-season signing Wade McKinnon. ‘‘I think we’re the tightest-knit side in the comp,’’ winger Beau Ryan said.
‘‘We’re starting to learn how to play with each other and how to play with confidence. When we do it’s scary. We’ve just got to learn from it. We’re going to have the same side next year. It’ll be the year of the Tiger in 2011, brother.’’
Sheens told his players after the game they should take heart from their opponents, who bowed out in consecutive weeks in the finals last season only to end up in a grand final, at their expense, a year later. ‘‘They went on to be stronger from it, and that’s where we want to be, stronger for it next year,’’ Sheens said.
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Only Daniel Fitzhenry and John Skandalis will not be part of the squad next year, although the latter may still come out of retirement, given he has done so two seasons in a row.
It will be interesting to see if Sheens continues with a utility (probably Moltzen) on the bench without Fitzhenry.
We are looking good for next year though.
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I rate Moltzen but Lui has earnt the 7 and should be there. I’m not sure I see the sense in Moltzen on the bench? and he is probably too good a player to seetle for that.
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As long as Moltzen is never picked at fulback I am ok
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With McKinnon and Brown there I think Moltzen would struggle to be our best option in that position.
The Big Sports Breakfast were speaking very highly of Lui this morning. I am not sure now where Timmy fits on - but I sure wouldn’t want to lose hime.
Good to see that when one of ours goes down, someone is ready to step up and not only fill the void but make it there own!!
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Lui will still be eligable for 20’s next year. It’s simple Sheens will through off season and trials test them both. Personally i think putting Lui back in 20’s and being able to have Moltzen as our 1st choice 7 is great for competition. Look at Sandow I think him not being put back after his initial arrival has made him a bit complacent and inconsistent.
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Lui will still be eligable for 20’s next year. It’s simple Sheens will through off season and trials test them both. Personally i think putting Lui back in 20’s and being able to have Moltzen as our 1st choice 7 is great for competition. Look at Sandow I think him not being put back after his initial arrival has made him a bit complacent and inconsistent.
No he isn’t. His DOB is 23 Feb 1990, making him 21 next year.
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oh bugger…my bad
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IF. IF we can get moltz to fullback we are complete. He is awesome attacking from there just his defense is non existent. At this stage u can’t really just yank lui out of 7 especially they way he has stepped up.
Exciting times ahead!
