Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says fullback turned five-eighth Tim Moltzen has to be the one to help out Benji Marshall in the absence of injured skipper Robbie Farah.
Farah will miss Sunday’s must-win NRL clash with Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium due to a broken hand, forcing Sheens to revert to plan A by moving Moltzen back to the halves to add some playmaking thrust.
Moltzen started the season at halfback before being moved to fullback following the season-ending injury to James Tedesco in the opening round.
He struggled early but has started to find some form in recent weeks, Sheens hoping his move closer to the action will help cover for the loss of Farah.
“He’s played more halves for me than he has fullback. He trained all pre-season as a halfback with Benji,” Sheens said.
“(I had to) do what I could do to get another ball player in there without Robbie Farah.
“Tim fits that bill and Beau’s (Ryan) done a really good job at the back.
“Benji will still control the game. Obviously, he hasn’t got Robbie there to support that so he needs Tim to support him, and everyone has got to step up, particularly the senior players this week.”
The Tigers are teetering at the bottom of the top eight, and could drop out if they lose to the Roosters on Sunday.
Sheens said he met video referee Sean Hampstead on Wednesday to clear the air over his gaffe in allowing Jonathan Wright’s try in Friday night’s loss to Canterbury – which left the Tigers’ finals hopes in the balance.
“We had about an hour together and shook hands – that’s all we can say,” Sheens said.
“That was a semi-final for us. Every game, with two weeks to go, they’re semi-finals. We’ve been playing semi-final football for the last three or four rounds with everyone clawing their way to make the eight.
“Nearly every team is trying to do the same thing, whether they’re trying to avoid the wooden spoon or make the top four or stay in the eight or whatever, so very important games.
“(The) unfortunate thing about a mistake like that is you’ve only got two rounds to go. It’s not round two – you’ve got plenty of room to move for the rest of the season – but two rounds to go, it’s obviously disappointing but we’ve had our say. We’ve got to move on – we’ve got a big game this week against the Roosters.”
