Nicholas
02-09-2006, 07:02 AM
Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall has ditched the arm brace and returned to the training paddock, but he could still miss the first month of next year's NRL season.
The New Zealand international is on the comeback from a shoulder reconstruction and moved freely at Tigers' training, joining teammates for ballwork and skills at Concord Oval.
But Tigers coach Tim Sheens said there was "no chance at all" Marshall would make an early comeback for the Kiwis' Tri-Nations defence, warning he may not even be ready to start the 2007 NRL season.
"His arm has only been out of a sling for two weeks. He'd be back for the start of next season, at worst a month into the season," said Sheens.
"We want (him) to work hard in the offseason on skills and as soon as he is in a position to kick and run and do things that is what we asked him to do.
"But he won't have any contact until well and truly later on in the year.
"We want to make sure that injury is well and truly healed and he's had a chance to do a lot of work in the gym before we consider playing him again."
Tigers teammate Paul Whatuira however could be ready for a comeback for New Zealand, his hamstring back to about 90 per cent strength and he completed run throughs alongside Brett Hodgson at the session.
However Sheens warned Whatuira too was a dubious prospect and a rushed return was not recommended.
"I just don't know where Paul's up to with his football as far as New Zealand is concerned," said Sheens.
"He is going to have a worry because he has not played on it and selectors are going to have to think hard about him.
"He has not had much football this year, particularly the last 10 weeks and I think that might go against him.
"If his leg is fit then that would be great but I'm worried about him playing when he is not ready, particularly at that intensity.
"He won't want to let New Zealand down or himself down but he won't want that injury to reoccur so he will need a clear medical before he plays."
While halfback Scott Prince was the only Tiger in last year's Australian Tri Nations team, Sheens believes young hooker Robbie Farah should make the squad with incumbent Danny Buderus to miss the series for the birth of his first child.
"I'd be surprised if Robbie is not in the train-on squad," he said.
The New Zealand international is on the comeback from a shoulder reconstruction and moved freely at Tigers' training, joining teammates for ballwork and skills at Concord Oval.
But Tigers coach Tim Sheens said there was "no chance at all" Marshall would make an early comeback for the Kiwis' Tri-Nations defence, warning he may not even be ready to start the 2007 NRL season.
"His arm has only been out of a sling for two weeks. He'd be back for the start of next season, at worst a month into the season," said Sheens.
"We want (him) to work hard in the offseason on skills and as soon as he is in a position to kick and run and do things that is what we asked him to do.
"But he won't have any contact until well and truly later on in the year.
"We want to make sure that injury is well and truly healed and he's had a chance to do a lot of work in the gym before we consider playing him again."
Tigers teammate Paul Whatuira however could be ready for a comeback for New Zealand, his hamstring back to about 90 per cent strength and he completed run throughs alongside Brett Hodgson at the session.
However Sheens warned Whatuira too was a dubious prospect and a rushed return was not recommended.
"I just don't know where Paul's up to with his football as far as New Zealand is concerned," said Sheens.
"He is going to have a worry because he has not played on it and selectors are going to have to think hard about him.
"He has not had much football this year, particularly the last 10 weeks and I think that might go against him.
"If his leg is fit then that would be great but I'm worried about him playing when he is not ready, particularly at that intensity.
"He won't want to let New Zealand down or himself down but he won't want that injury to reoccur so he will need a clear medical before he plays."
While halfback Scott Prince was the only Tiger in last year's Australian Tri Nations team, Sheens believes young hooker Robbie Farah should make the squad with incumbent Danny Buderus to miss the series for the birth of his first child.
"I'd be surprised if Robbie is not in the train-on squad," he said.