Tigers without several players for Cup clash

Wests Tigers second-rower Chris Heighington will miss the second annual Foundation Cup match through suspension. Heighington will serve out a one match suspension carried over from 2007.Although suspended from the NRL, Heighington is free to play in the NSW State Cup trial match against Newtown Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday, February 23, from 3.20pm.
In more bad news for the Wests Tigers, they will also be without the services of Dean Collis, Shannon McDonnell, Danny Galea, Bryce Gibbs and Mathew Head who will miss the trial through on-going  injury concerns.

It’s understood that Collis, McDonnell and Galea only have hamstring injuries and are tipped to return for the Gold Coast Titans trial on Saturday, March 1.

Prop Bryce Gibbs has an ankle injury and has been earmarked for a round three return against the Bulldogs and new half-back Mathew Head has a shoulder injury and is confident of being right for round one against St George-Illawarra Dragons; many Tigers fans will watch the progress of Head closely as the former Dragons star is expected to do big things for the club that really missed the organisation skills of Scott Prince during 2007.

The Roosters won the inaugural Foundation Cup 10-4 last year in front of a crowd of 16,000.  The Foundation Cup will be the first chance for the Tigers new signings in winger Nick Youngquest and second-rower Corey Payne to be unleashed in their new club colours.

 

Dene Halatau makes a return to his original centre position after spending a few seasons in the forwards.

 

Tigers Coach Tim Sheens has elected to give rising young half back Tim Moltzen and rookie winger Peni Tagive the chance to test themselves in first grade. Moltzen represented the Junior Kangaroos in 2007 with Tagive having played alongside Chris Lawrence on the Australian Schoolboys tour of 2006.

Wests Tigers team

 

1 Brett Hodgson ©

2 Nick Youngquest

3 Dene Halatau

4 Chris Lawrence

5 Taniela Tuiaki

6 Benji Marshall

7 John Morris

8 Todd Payten

9 Robbie Farah

10 Keith Galloway

11 Bronson Harrison

12 Ben Te’o

13 Liam Fulton

 

14 Stuart Flanagan

15 Tim Moltzen

16 Ryan O’Hara

17 Corey Payne