Gafa given a pivotal role
June 21, 2005
Canberra Raiders utility Matt Gafa has been given a pivotal role for Saturday nights match against the North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, selected to start at five-eighth.
Gafas promotion came as the Raiders received more bad injury news today, winger Marshall Chalk ruled out for the next 4-6 weeks with a fractured jaw.
Experienced winger Michael Robertson comes into the Raiders team to replace Chalk, who played almost 50 minutes against the Bulldogs on Sunday with the jaw injury. X-rays this morning confirmed the fracture.
Young backrower Kris Kahler has also been recalled into the Raiders starting team to take over from Matt Adamson, out for up to six weeks with a rib cartilage injury.
Gafa has been Canberras reliable Mr Fix-It this season, playing every NRL game for the Raiders this year. It has been in a variety of positions, from the wing to the backrow.
Key play-maker Jason Smith is aiming to return for the following Round 17 match against the Penrith Panthers. But Raiders coach Matt Elliott has appointed Gafa to take charge in attack this Saturday.
I certainly cant question the effort the players are displaying, but weve suffered in our execution and we keep getting injuries to key players, Elliott said.
We havent played with a great deal of width and Matty [Gafa] certainly has the confidence and assertiveness to take charge of our team. Thats something weve probably been lacking.
We need to play some football. Weve got no problem going forward or accumulating momentum, but were not putting the cream on top of the cake at the moment.
RAIDERS v COWBOYS
Saturday, June 25, 5.30pm
Canberra Stadium
1. CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE
2. JERMAINE ALE
3. DAVID HOWELL
4. CRAIG FRAWLEY
5. MICHAEL ROBERTSON
6. MATT GAFA
7. LINCOLN WITHERS
8. JOSH MILLER
9. SIMON WOOLFORD
10. TROY THOMPSON
11. KRIS KAHLER
12. IAN HINDMARSH
13. JASON CROKER
INTERCHANGE
14. ALAN TONGUE
15. ANDREW LOMU
16. JASON WILLIAMS
17. BEN CROSS