http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t-against-sharks/story-e6frexnr-1225760414631
THANKS to his day job as a lifeguard, Tigers cub Robert Lui knows all about being thrown in at the deep end.
But that's a completely different story to surviving a Shark attack, the challenge Lui was handed last night after being named to make his NRL debut against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Gunning for six straight wins, Tigers coach Tim Sheens has elected to gamble on the 19-year-old to fill his side's problematic No. 7 jersey as they strive to continue a remarkable late-season finals surge.
Virtually unknown to all but the dawn paddlers at Drummoyne Olympic pool, the Torres Strait Island youngster was earmarked for the top grade a month ago, according to Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons.
"He's a mature type of kid - I don't think this will fluster him," Simmons said. "He's been training with us for three or four weeks because we knew there would probably be an injury and he'd come in. He has fit right in at training and has no problems giving the boys orders."
With regular fullback Shannon Gallant ruled out for six weeks, coach Tim Sheens has moved Tim Moltzen back to the No. 1 jersey to accommodate Lui at the base of the scrum.
Lui was plucked from obscurity in Townsville five years ago when Wests Tigers recruitment boss Warren McDonnell spotted the youngster playing a junior club game for local side Centrals.
Impressed with his size and ball skills, McDonnell fast-tracked Lui into the joint-venture's scholarship stream with Gold Goast schoolboy football powerhouse Keebra Park High - Benji Marshall's alma mater.
After finishing his studies in 2007, Lui moved to Sydney's inner west last year.
He has switched between a Tigers Toyota Cup jersey and a pair of Speedos ever since.
With the pool temporarily closed for winter, he now mows lawns for club sponsor Waratah Environmental Service - ironically the same career that Cronulla opposite Scott Porter put on hold to pursue his NRL dream this season.
The softly spoken Lui - who lives in a Tigers billet house in Five Dock - politely declined an interview last night, telling The Daily Telegraph he was under instructions not to talk publicly.
Lui's childhood coaches in Townsville last night recalled tales about his confidence as a junior.
"I'll never forget one match where we had a kid go to hospital and we were down by 18 points," said Ray Foster, one of Lui's coaches at his first junior club, Upper Ross Rams.
"Robert was only 12 at the time but he said to me, 'Don't worry coach, I'll win this game for him'.
"He went out and scored three tries and surely enough, we won."
McDonnell said arrangements were being made for Lui's parents, who live in Mt Isa, and his Townsville-based grandmother to attend Sunday's game.
THANKS to his day job as a lifeguard, Tigers cub Robert Lui knows all about being thrown in at the deep end.
But that's a completely different story to surviving a Shark attack, the challenge Lui was handed last night after being named to make his NRL debut against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Gunning for six straight wins, Tigers coach Tim Sheens has elected to gamble on the 19-year-old to fill his side's problematic No. 7 jersey as they strive to continue a remarkable late-season finals surge.
Virtually unknown to all but the dawn paddlers at Drummoyne Olympic pool, the Torres Strait Island youngster was earmarked for the top grade a month ago, according to Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons.
"He's a mature type of kid - I don't think this will fluster him," Simmons said. "He's been training with us for three or four weeks because we knew there would probably be an injury and he'd come in. He has fit right in at training and has no problems giving the boys orders."
With regular fullback Shannon Gallant ruled out for six weeks, coach Tim Sheens has moved Tim Moltzen back to the No. 1 jersey to accommodate Lui at the base of the scrum.
Lui was plucked from obscurity in Townsville five years ago when Wests Tigers recruitment boss Warren McDonnell spotted the youngster playing a junior club game for local side Centrals.
Impressed with his size and ball skills, McDonnell fast-tracked Lui into the joint-venture's scholarship stream with Gold Goast schoolboy football powerhouse Keebra Park High - Benji Marshall's alma mater.
After finishing his studies in 2007, Lui moved to Sydney's inner west last year.
He has switched between a Tigers Toyota Cup jersey and a pair of Speedos ever since.
With the pool temporarily closed for winter, he now mows lawns for club sponsor Waratah Environmental Service - ironically the same career that Cronulla opposite Scott Porter put on hold to pursue his NRL dream this season.
The softly spoken Lui - who lives in a Tigers billet house in Five Dock - politely declined an interview last night, telling The Daily Telegraph he was under instructions not to talk publicly.
Lui's childhood coaches in Townsville last night recalled tales about his confidence as a junior.
"I'll never forget one match where we had a kid go to hospital and we were down by 18 points," said Ray Foster, one of Lui's coaches at his first junior club, Upper Ross Rams.
"Robert was only 12 at the time but he said to me, 'Don't worry coach, I'll win this game for him'.
"He went out and scored three tries and surely enough, we won."
McDonnell said arrangements were being made for Lui's parents, who live in Mt Isa, and his Townsville-based grandmother to attend Sunday's game.
