-
Torment toughens Tiger Tim
- Steve Gee
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- January 06, 2011 12:00AM
TIM Moltzen’s season of promise was cut short by a freak knee injury before he watched as another rookie halfback helped propel Wests Tigers to within a point of the grand final.
But after overcoming a fractured skull as a 17-year-old to crack an NRL contract, Moltzen has already shown the benefits of adversity in his career. And the Tigers flyer is adamant he will return an even better player this year after the anguish of 2010.
The 22-year-old was being groomed as either the Tigers’ No. 7 or fullback before dislocating his right knee in round five. He was then forced to watch from the sidelines as rookie Robert Lui made the playmakers’ role his own in the march to the grand final qualifying loss to St George Illawarra and the club signed New Zealand Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon.
But though he faces a battle to start the season in either the one or seven, the Terrigal junior is adamant the latest setback will only make him stronger.
Moltzen missed almost a season of football at 17 and had a metal plate inserted after his skull was fractured playing on the Central Coast.
It was a layoff he says was the making of him as a footballer. And he says the thought of another season of being a spectator has only stoked the fires to make amends in 2011.
The utility yesterday showed he had lost none of his speed as the Tigers returned to the paddock with a 2km time trial at Concord. “It was pretty heartbreaking [to get the injury],” Moltzen said.
"I felt like I came off a pretty good year for myself in 2009 and was just really eager to get into 2010 and try and play a good role for the team.
“I was slowly getting there but it was cut pretty short and that definitely took a while to get used to and I suppose watching the boys do so well was also a bit bitter-sweet.”
But Moltzen says the layoff has only made him mentally tougher and is adamant he will rise again like he did from the skull fracture.
“That was something that turned my footy around,” Moltzen said. “I was a bit lazy with it all, just taking everything as it comes, but when the injury happened I thought footy was going to be taken away from me. It was something that made me work even harder and I suppose I could say the same with this injury.”
Tigers coach Tim Sheens and captain Robbie Farah yesterday agreed the loss of Moltzen was a major blow to the premiership campaign.
Sheens remains undecided where Moltzen will start, but was already spruiking him as a potential Origin player this year.
“I think he could have represented [last year],” Sheens said. “I think they were definitely looking at him. There’s a new broom going through NSW and he’s a chance because of his utility value.”
Source: Dailytelegraph.com.au
-
Tigers coach > Tim Sheens and captain Robbie Farah yesterday agreed the loss of Moltzen was a major blow to the premiership campaign.
Sheens remains undecided where Moltzen will start, but was already spruiking him as a potential Origin player this year.
Hey WATTO…does that make it any clearer for you buddy…
:sign:2011- The Year of Moltz…
Oh and Tim…halfback 7. Moltzen…
-
I’ll Take Moltz anywhere in the 17, Im thinking Coach will have him on the bench for the first few rounds.
Again - The Lui Thing may sort out everything.
67 days 8 hours 41 mins…. (got to love Google Gadgets)
-
Lui should be given the No.7 jersey (legal proceedings aside) and Moltz to start from the bench.
-
A fractured skull is an odd footy injury
Damn sheens dont mind putting pressure on players - origin, a way off if at all imo - but god help you if someone else does, you end up playing more reggies than firsts
