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Fien's fine knowing the end is nigh
Michael Chammas
February 4, 2012
Mentor ... Nathan Fien. Photo: Getty Images
NATHAN FIEN, the grandfather of St George Illawarra's hooker ranks, is enjoying mentoring Cameron King and Mitch Rein but believes it won't be long before they overtake him in the pecking order.
The 32-year-old, who was last week called into Wayne Bennett's NRL All Stars team to replace the injured Ben Hornby, will be able to say he has done everything in the game when he takes to the field on the Gold Coast tonight.
He has played State of Origin for Queensland, won a World Cup and Four Nations with New Zealand, claimed minor premierships, a premiership and a World Club Challenge for the Dragons, and tonight he makes his All Stars debut.
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While Fien insists the will to succeed is still as strong as ever, he realises the wealth of dummy half stocks at the Dragons means it won't be long before King and Rein are the club's No. 1 options at dummy half.
''I'm really enjoying the role that I'm playing mentoring those guys a little bit,'' Fien said. ''But I know it's inevitable Kingy and Reiny will eventually surpass me, and I guess that's what makes it so rewarding being a bit of a mentor to them.''
King was unofficially anointed as the Dragons' first-choice rookie hooker when former coach Wayne Bennett selected him in the squad for last year's World Club Challenge match against Wigan.
But a near season-ending pectoral injury he suffered in the process of scoring the match-winning try opened the door for Rein to make his NRL debut, and he seized the opportunity.
Rein was one of the real highlights in a season that promised so much but delivered very little, leaving new coach Steve Price with a tough decision to make ahead of the opening round clash against Bennett's Knights up in Newcastle.
Dean Young, Rein, King and Fien are all in line to start the year in the No.9 jersey, and even if Young was to play at lock, there wouldn't be room for all four of them in the team.
Fien being axed would be highly unexpected but he gave little away as to who would win the battle for the likely final bench position.
''Kingy's coming back well from his injury and he's looking pretty sharp to tell you the truth,'' Fien said. ''He got a few games at the back end of the year and he's starting to look really, really good.
''As for Reiny, he's probably the fittest bloke in the team. He's just got a big engine on him and he just keeps going and going.
''They're definitely keeping me on my toes. I wouldn't expect a guaranteed position. It's a tough game and everyone has to earn their spots, just because I've been there for a little while now, it doesn't mean you are an automatic selection.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...end-is-nigh-20120203-1qxln.html#ixzz1lVmwf18O
Michael Chammas
February 4, 2012
NATHAN FIEN, the grandfather of St George Illawarra's hooker ranks, is enjoying mentoring Cameron King and Mitch Rein but believes it won't be long before they overtake him in the pecking order.
The 32-year-old, who was last week called into Wayne Bennett's NRL All Stars team to replace the injured Ben Hornby, will be able to say he has done everything in the game when he takes to the field on the Gold Coast tonight.
He has played State of Origin for Queensland, won a World Cup and Four Nations with New Zealand, claimed minor premierships, a premiership and a World Club Challenge for the Dragons, and tonight he makes his All Stars debut.
Advertisement: Story continues below
While Fien insists the will to succeed is still as strong as ever, he realises the wealth of dummy half stocks at the Dragons means it won't be long before King and Rein are the club's No. 1 options at dummy half.
''I'm really enjoying the role that I'm playing mentoring those guys a little bit,'' Fien said. ''But I know it's inevitable Kingy and Reiny will eventually surpass me, and I guess that's what makes it so rewarding being a bit of a mentor to them.''
King was unofficially anointed as the Dragons' first-choice rookie hooker when former coach Wayne Bennett selected him in the squad for last year's World Club Challenge match against Wigan.
But a near season-ending pectoral injury he suffered in the process of scoring the match-winning try opened the door for Rein to make his NRL debut, and he seized the opportunity.
Rein was one of the real highlights in a season that promised so much but delivered very little, leaving new coach Steve Price with a tough decision to make ahead of the opening round clash against Bennett's Knights up in Newcastle.
Dean Young, Rein, King and Fien are all in line to start the year in the No.9 jersey, and even if Young was to play at lock, there wouldn't be room for all four of them in the team.
Fien being axed would be highly unexpected but he gave little away as to who would win the battle for the likely final bench position.
''Kingy's coming back well from his injury and he's looking pretty sharp to tell you the truth,'' Fien said. ''He got a few games at the back end of the year and he's starting to look really, really good.
''As for Reiny, he's probably the fittest bloke in the team. He's just got a big engine on him and he just keeps going and going.
''They're definitely keeping me on my toes. I wouldn't expect a guaranteed position. It's a tough game and everyone has to earn their spots, just because I've been there for a little while now, it doesn't mean you are an automatic selection.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...end-is-nigh-20120203-1qxln.html#ixzz1lVmwf18O
