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SHEENS LOOKS AT YOUTH FOR COWBOYS TRIAL
By Wayne Cousins
2/02/2011 2:03:10 PMWests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens is looking towards the youth of the club after naming his team to play North Queensland Cowboys in a trial in Townsville on Friday, February 11.
The trial will be Wests Tigers first hit out for 2011. The match will be played at Brothers Rugby League Club, Kirwan (Townsville) from 8pm.
A strong advocate of the NYC competition, Sheens has chosen six players from Wests Tigers U20s team last year in Jake Mullaney, Jake Clarke, Matt Hyland, Neil Begovich, Dean Parata and Junior Roqica.
New recruits in winger Ratu Tagive and half-back Jacob Miller are in the team. Tagive scored 12 tries in 16 matches for the Bulldogs U20s last year while Miller crossed for 10 tries in 14 games for the Roosters U20s.
“There is plenty of flak about the U20s not being the right age and where do the players go once they are finished there. For us, they go into our NSW Cup teams,’’ Sheens said.
“We are giving our U20s players a pathway despite what the doomsayers say. Tagive, Miller, Begovich, Parata and Roqica can still play U20s this season.
“This is a good chance for me to look at some of these young players who have had full time summer training. We are giving a lot of our youngsters an opportunity to get exposed to first grade coaching and conditioning.
“Wests Tigers are renowned for giving its youngsters a go…Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence, Liam Fulton, Bryce Gibbs, Rob Lui, Simon Dwyer to name a few.”
Former Bulldogs premiership winning winger Matt Utai has been named at centre. Utai is trialing with the club. Sheens is experimenting with Hyland (pictured) at hooker.
“It is about expanding Matty’s repertoire. He is normally a 13 but he can play nine. Alan Tongue at Canberra for example can play both. It will give Matt more of an opportunity to play first grade,’’ Sheens said.
Sean Meaney has been named at five-eighth to partner Miller after the pair formed a strong halves combination in representing NSW Residents last year.
Sheens has been pleased with the performances over summer of Mullaney and back-rowers Nu Akeripa and Josh Davis. Mullaney has recovered well from a chronic hamstring injury that sidelined him late last season.
Ratu Tagive, the younger brother of former Wests Tigers winger Peni Tagive, has been named on the wing while Fijian utility Alipate Noilea gets a start off the interchange bench.
Wests Tigers Squad to play Cowboys
1 Jake Mullaney
2 Ratu Tagive
3 Jake Clarke
4 Matt Utai
5 Sam Latu
6 Sean Meaney
7 Jacob Miller
8 Andrew Pearn
9 Matt Hyland
10 Alan Schirnack
11 Nu Akeripa
12 Josh Davis
13 Jarred Farlow
Interchange
14 Neil Begovich
15 Alipate Noilea
16 Rhys Curran
17 Jason Schirnack
18 Matt Ryan
19 Dean Parata
20 Junior Roqica -
Hopefully Brothers Rugby League Club, Kirwan is still there tomorrow.
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Is Finau injured or just overlooked?
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This is one big Cyclone approaching.I too hope Brothers Leagues Club Kirwan is still here tomorrow along with my house,I’m with you Innsaneink.I live down the road from Brothers Kirwan.So old poppa will just have to hang on tight to whatever……
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Is Finau injured or just overlooked?
Same has to be asked of Politoni & Woods?
Finau is still pretty young, I suspect he’ll be held in check for the under 20 trial matches. As for Woods and Politoni, I reckon they’ll either run out for Balmain during the Eels trial or get a run off the bench in FG.
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I like the side. Will be great to see where these guys are at. Will be particularity keen to hear how Mullany plays and how Hyland goes at 9.
Plus, if Townsville is hit like they are saying, these boys might be able to stick around and lend a hand.
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Id have rather seen some nrl players there so we can see what combinations work
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Is Finau injured or just overlooked?
Same has to be asked of Politoni & Woods?
Think Politoni still in rehab after shoulder surgery not sure about Woods
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Poppa - be safe and good luck.
I’ll be surprised if this trial goes ahead in Townsville but who knows.utai at centre - that doesn;t bode well for the rest of the season. fitzy all over again.
Definitely some talent out there though.
GO TIGERS! -
The first team announcement of the year, the season cant be too far off now!
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Thanks softlaw.I too will be surprised if this trial goes ahead now.Maybe they could take it to Sydney say,Campbelltown would be an excellent venue.Sadly for us supporters up here though…
:sign: :supporter:
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i was talking to mighty mouse last night. i told him he should leave townsville as soon as possible. he said he couldnt because they have training this morning. you would think in times like this they could miss one training session.
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i was talking to mighty mouse last night. i told him he should leave townsville as soon as possible. he said he couldnt because they have training this morning. you would think in times like this they could miss one training session.
They can’t afford to miss one training session because their first trial is against the mighty Tigers!
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Wow so much depth this year. There’s blokes on the bench of a 2nd/3rd strength side that are IMO first grade standard
