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Hill points to Tigers' potential
08:00 AEST Sun May 23 2004
Former Test centre Terry Hill tipped Wests Tigers to be serious finals contenders next year after his former club pipped an understrength Bulldogs 30-26 in tonight's NRL clash at Gosford Stadium.
"I wish Tim Sheens was here four years ago," said Hill, who was invited by the Tigers coach to attend tonight's match, which was shifted to Gosford because Sydney Showground's playing surface was deemed unsafe.
"Another year under Tim Sheens and the Tigers will be dead-set in finals contention, I guarantee you."
Tigers centre Shane Elford scored the match-winner in the 70th minute when he intercepted a Brent Sherwin pass and ran 37 metres to score to give his side the lead for the first time in a see-sawing match played in front of a healthy crowd of 14,897.
Hill, who played for the Tigers from 2000 to 2003, also said fullback Brett Hodgson would not look out of place in the NSW Origin team after starring for the joint venture club.
"They went with Ben Hornby (at fullback for Origin I) but if he makes a mistake, you won't do any harm by putting Hodgson in there," said Hill, who retired from rugby league earlier this year because of a serious knee injury.
Hodgson, who played three Origin matches for the Blues in 2002, was ill with a virus last weekend when he ran 283m in the Tigers' 26-12 victory over Canberra.
"There seems to be this conception that he's too small (for Origin) but it's the fight in the dog," said Wests coach Tim Sheens.
Hodgson put in another powerhouse display, scoring a 36th minute try, setting up another for Jason Moodie, defusing several dangerous bombs and kicking five goals.
Keiran Kerr, who filled in for Queensland Origin halfback Scott Prince, also contributed strongly to Wests' victory.
The former St George Illawarra utility scored a try just before halftime which levelled the scores at 18-all after the Bulldogs had skipped to an 18-6 lead in the 32nd minute through four-pointers to centres Ben Harris and Willie Tonga, who bagged a double.
"The tenacity the guys showed was terrific," Sheens said.
"We came from behind, we chased them all night and we showed enough grit to get there."
The Bulldogs tried hard but struggled without Origin forwards Steve Price, Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason and Andrew Ryan.
Coach Steve Folkes was offering no excuses.
©AAP 2004
08:00 AEST Sun May 23 2004
Former Test centre Terry Hill tipped Wests Tigers to be serious finals contenders next year after his former club pipped an understrength Bulldogs 30-26 in tonight's NRL clash at Gosford Stadium.
"I wish Tim Sheens was here four years ago," said Hill, who was invited by the Tigers coach to attend tonight's match, which was shifted to Gosford because Sydney Showground's playing surface was deemed unsafe.
"Another year under Tim Sheens and the Tigers will be dead-set in finals contention, I guarantee you."
Tigers centre Shane Elford scored the match-winner in the 70th minute when he intercepted a Brent Sherwin pass and ran 37 metres to score to give his side the lead for the first time in a see-sawing match played in front of a healthy crowd of 14,897.
Hill, who played for the Tigers from 2000 to 2003, also said fullback Brett Hodgson would not look out of place in the NSW Origin team after starring for the joint venture club.
"They went with Ben Hornby (at fullback for Origin I) but if he makes a mistake, you won't do any harm by putting Hodgson in there," said Hill, who retired from rugby league earlier this year because of a serious knee injury.
Hodgson, who played three Origin matches for the Blues in 2002, was ill with a virus last weekend when he ran 283m in the Tigers' 26-12 victory over Canberra.
"There seems to be this conception that he's too small (for Origin) but it's the fight in the dog," said Wests coach Tim Sheens.
Hodgson put in another powerhouse display, scoring a 36th minute try, setting up another for Jason Moodie, defusing several dangerous bombs and kicking five goals.
Keiran Kerr, who filled in for Queensland Origin halfback Scott Prince, also contributed strongly to Wests' victory.
The former St George Illawarra utility scored a try just before halftime which levelled the scores at 18-all after the Bulldogs had skipped to an 18-6 lead in the 32nd minute through four-pointers to centres Ben Harris and Willie Tonga, who bagged a double.
"The tenacity the guys showed was terrific," Sheens said.
"We came from behind, we chased them all night and we showed enough grit to get there."
The Bulldogs tried hard but struggled without Origin forwards Steve Price, Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason and Andrew Ryan.
Coach Steve Folkes was offering no excuses.
©AAP 2004
