Marshall may miss start of 2007
By Todd Balym
August 31, 2006 WESTS Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall has ditched the arm brace and returned to the training paddock, but he may still miss the first month of the 2007 NRL season.
The New Zealand international is on the comeback trail after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction, and he moved freely at Wests Tigers training today, joining teammates for ballwork and skills at Concord Oval.
But Tigers coach Tim Sheens said there was "no chance at all" that Marshall would make an early comeback for the Kiwis in their Tri-Nations defence, warning that he might not even be ready to start the 2007 NRL season.
"His arm has only been out of a sling for two weeks," Sheens said.
"He'd be back for the start of next season, at worst a month into the season.
"We want (him) to work hard in the off-season on skills and, as soon as he is in a position to kick and run and do things, that is what we asked him to do.
"But he won't have any contact until well and truly later on in the year.
"We want to make sure that injury is well and truly healed and he's had a chance to do a lot of work in the gym before we consider playing him again.
Teammate Paul Whatuira, however, may return for New Zealand, with his injured hamstring back to about 90 per cent strength.
Whatuira completed run throughs alongside Brett Hodgson at today's session.
However , Sheens warned that Whatuira, too, was a dubious prospect, saying a rushed return was not recommended.
"I just don't know where Paul's up to with his football as far as New Zealand is concerned," Sheens said.
"He is going to have a worry because he has not played on it and selectors are going to have to think hard about him.
"He has not had much football this year, particularly the last 10 weeks, and I think that might go against him.
"If his leg is fit then that would be great, but I'm worried about him playing when he is not ready, particularly at that intensity.
"He won't want to let New Zealand down or himself down but he won't want that injury to reoccur so he will need a clear medical before he plays."
While halfback Scott Prince was the only Wests Tigers player in last year's Australia Tri-Nations team, Sheens believes young hooker Robbie Farah could make the 2006 squad - with incumbent Danny Buderus to miss the series to attend the birth of his first child.
"I'd be surprised if Robbie is not in the train-on squad," he said.
AAP
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By Todd Balym
August 31, 2006 WESTS Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall has ditched the arm brace and returned to the training paddock, but he may still miss the first month of the 2007 NRL season.
The New Zealand international is on the comeback trail after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction, and he moved freely at Wests Tigers training today, joining teammates for ballwork and skills at Concord Oval.
But Tigers coach Tim Sheens said there was "no chance at all" that Marshall would make an early comeback for the Kiwis in their Tri-Nations defence, warning that he might not even be ready to start the 2007 NRL season.
"His arm has only been out of a sling for two weeks," Sheens said.
"He'd be back for the start of next season, at worst a month into the season.
"We want (him) to work hard in the off-season on skills and, as soon as he is in a position to kick and run and do things, that is what we asked him to do.
"But he won't have any contact until well and truly later on in the year.
"We want to make sure that injury is well and truly healed and he's had a chance to do a lot of work in the gym before we consider playing him again.
Teammate Paul Whatuira, however, may return for New Zealand, with his injured hamstring back to about 90 per cent strength.
Whatuira completed run throughs alongside Brett Hodgson at today's session.
However , Sheens warned that Whatuira, too, was a dubious prospect, saying a rushed return was not recommended.
"I just don't know where Paul's up to with his football as far as New Zealand is concerned," Sheens said.
"He is going to have a worry because he has not played on it and selectors are going to have to think hard about him.
"He has not had much football this year, particularly the last 10 weeks, and I think that might go against him.
"If his leg is fit then that would be great, but I'm worried about him playing when he is not ready, particularly at that intensity.
"He won't want to let New Zealand down or himself down but he won't want that injury to reoccur so he will need a clear medical before he plays."
While halfback Scott Prince was the only Wests Tigers player in last year's Australia Tri-Nations team, Sheens believes young hooker Robbie Farah could make the 2006 squad - with incumbent Danny Buderus to miss the series to attend the birth of his first child.
"I'd be surprised if Robbie is not in the train-on squad," he said.
AAP
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