Head

[chopsy_05]

Wests Tigers keep Head on stand-by for Farah

By Josh Massoud | April 11, 2008 12:00am
Daily Tele
THE "excitement" is building for Dragons discard Mathew Head, whose long-awaited NRL resurrection could come as soon as Sunday.
After being released by St George Illawarra last season, Head is set to make his first top-grade appearance in 293 days with new club Wests Tigers.
The pint-sized No. 7 last night confirmed he was on stand-by for selected half Robbie Farah, who remains in doubt because of a chronic back complaint.
Farah tackled, passed and ran strongly during yesterday's opposed session, but must recover without painful symptoms to be cleared to face Canberra.
Should the star playmaker rest another week, Head is favoured to debut for the Tigers in his place.
Head last played NRL football 11 months ago with the Dragons, where he was dropped to Premier League amid concerns a string of serious knee injuries had eroded his confidence. He was granted a release a fortnight later and finished 2007 at Hull in the UK Super League.
But the player once touted as a future NSW Origin half remained desperate to prove his worth in Australia, and rejected big-money offers abroad to sign a one-year deal with Wests Tigers.
Head, 25, has improved over the early rounds in the NSW Cup to the point where he shared the playmaking duties with Farah at yesterday's field session.
"It was pretty exciting when I heard I was a chance for this weekend - it seems like a long time since I came back from England," he said. "(Coach) Tim Sheens told me on Wednesday that he needed to see how Robbie pulls up. If my chance comes this weekend, I know I'm ready to take it."
Prior to his first knee injury in 2005, Head was one of the NRL's best playmaking prospects. "The body is feeling as good as it did back then," he said.

 

[Spank]

Fingers crossed we look like this now that Robbie is out:

3. Collis
4. Lawrence
6. moltzen
7. Head

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Funny what a NATURAL in the #7 does, eh?

 

[Bow_rider]

I thourght he was outstanding today. Great to see a player come back from two years of injuries and be so confident with his fitness.Good on you Matthew Head.

 

[bubblesunlimited]

Look out NRL.

I can hear an angry growling animal ready to burst out of the jungle.

1. Hodgo

6. Benjamin
7. Headie

9. Faffy

Thrown in a fit Halatau, an awesome secong halfback Payten, Lawrence and Collis firing, man oh man I can feel it.

 

[themanonthehill]

How good is he. The forward must be thankful they are running it from 30 and 40 off their own line rather than 10 because of where his kicking game has us finish our sets. I can't believe supercoach claims `he has some thinking to do' when Benji is back. No you don't ... Morris >>> state cup

That ball first half almost found me Johnny .. ta

 

[smeghead]

I don't think there is much to consider until Farah returns.

Morris was great from hooker vs the Raiders and his long kicking game is much improved now that the pressure of an un-natural position of halfback is gone and he can choose when to kick.

Head leads the team around the park in a way Morris or Benji are purely incapable of

 

[tiger_nick]

Matt Head when fit is probablt the third best halfback in the game (i think he just nudges Cronk) without him we would have lost today and got belted by 40 by canberra. I have no doubt in my mind as to either of those. Absolute class act, thanks Dragons!!

 

[themanonthehill]

Why does coach shines have `some thinking to do' when Benji is back.
Does coach shines not see it is easier to tackle on their 10m line after a good kick and have us run it from our 30 rather than our 10 because Head knows where and when to kick ?
Cronulla are very gettable - they struggle for points and have been done by penriff and struggled to get soufs on Monday night. This is truly a sh*t comp and if we don't make a dent with the players we have we are truly kidding

 

[themanonthehill]

Matt Head when fit is probablt the third best halfback in the game (i think he just nudges Cronk) without him we would have lost today and got belted by 40 by canberra. I have no doubt in my mind as to either of those. Absolute class act, thanks Dragons!!

Nudges cronk easily. The best NSW halfback by a mile.
When you say cronk do you mean cooper or johnny.
Coach shines has already planted the seed saying head needs to run more, chase more, get faster, get fitter etc. Lucky we have johnny who runs lots (straight into the defence), doesn't past, kicks poorly but is extremely fit and goes for intercepts on his own line

 

[Ninja]

Matt Head when fit is probablt the third best halfback in the game (i think he just nudges Cronk) without him we would have lost today and got belted by 40 by canberra. I have no doubt in my mind as to either of those. Absolute class act, thanks Dragons!!

I rate Head better than Prince. Not as quick and agile but has a better kicking and passing game.

 

[themanonthehill]

Much better kicking game and knows when to kick. Doesn't wait for the 5th, kicks to corners. Such a great football brain on him. Johnny Cronk is still in orientation at halfback 101 whilst head is a phd student

 

[tiger_nick]

both tries souths scored were due to morris either rushing up or mis reading the play......but hey at least he can defend..........

 

[Ninja]

Has awesome timing on his passes. Always admired his play at the dragqueens. Great player. Benji must be frothing to get out there and play next to a real halfback. Its been a long time

 

[themanonthehill]

3 of our 4 tries last week were directly down to Head as well
Morris could never control, dominate or influence (well positively) a match like Head

 

[Geohood]

I won't forget Head's match vs the Roosters in 06... dominated us.

He has it in him and can prove a success for the Tigers if Benji is fit (Benji and Prince were the catalyst for 2005).

 

[magpie_man]

Damn it was good to see Head out there today.

 

[adamkungl]

tigers love head eh....dont we all though?

and before you ask, no i will not be making any more bad pun innuendo in future.

 

[super_coach]

Head better player than Prince????I don't think so. Kicking game might be better but thats about it. Dont get me wrong Head is brillant for us, but we have not had a no7 since 2005 so he is standing out like a becon at present. Of what I have seen of Prince this year at the Trojens he is the standout player of the NRL

 

[Tiger Hawk]

It's the little things that Head is doing that impresses. Kicking on the third to open spaces, chasing hard with his kicks, geeing the boys up. Simple basic stuff but hasn't been a part of the side for a while. Would like to see him run at the line a bit more but that will come.