Players roll off Tongue for next skipper
Chris Wilson
Sunday, 20 August 2006
IF PLAYER power counts, lock Alan Tongue is set to be crowned as the next Canberra Raiders captain.
Tongue and halfback Lincoln Withers were the clear leaders in a player poll conducted by the Canberra Sunday Times which asked 'who should be the next Raiders skipper?'.
Nineteen Raiders players were polled, Tongue receiving 11 votes, Withers five and prop Troy Thompson two. The majority said all three players would be capable leaders.
The Raiders will lose more than 1100 games of first-grade experience when six players depart at the end of the season, including current skipper Clinton Schifcofske and former captain Simon Woolford.
Incoming coach Neil Henry will make the final decision on the new captain, but it is already a topic of player conversation at Raiders headquarters.
The Raiders have had nine captains in their 25-season history, led by inaugural skipper David Grant in 1982.
Woolford, captain from 2001-05, endorsed Tongue.
"He's an 80-minute footballer and there's no one at the club with a better attitude, on or off the field," Woolford said. "I think he'd be the perfect choice.
"Tonguey leads by his actions and the more confidence he gets I think you'll see the other parts of his leadership coming out."
Tongue was flattered to be considered so highly by his peers, but said he would not be distracted by talk of captaincy.
A specialist bench-player last year, Tongue is the leading tackler in the NRL this season and has played all 22 matches. He said a more prominent role in the side had boosted his confidence.
"Last year I was coming off the bench, this year I've been starting and now my name's been thrown up as a possible captain. It's just been a whirlwind," he said.
"If you would have asked me 12 months ago if I could be captain I would have said no way in the world.
"Leadership's displayed in different ways. I try and hold myself to a standard in training. I'm not one to come out and make bold statements, I just try and let my actions do the talking."
Withers said he would also welcome the chance to lead the Raiders.
"It'd be exciting, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Withers said. "I'm sure everyone would love to be captain of this side. You have a look at the players that have captained the club and it'd be an honour to have your name tossed around with them."
Thompson, Raiders joint Player of the Year last season, is on the longest contract at the club, until the end of 2010.
"The last time I captained was for West Belconnen under-15s and under-16s and we won the premierships. So that says something," he said, laughing.
