Tuqiri believes Tigers can push on - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Tuqiri believes Tigers can push on

Ian McCullough 24/07/2011 03:35:46 PM Comments (0)

Coach Tim Sheens may be trying to play down Wests Tigers' good recent run of form, but Lote Tuqiri believes the return of the team's big guns has come at the perfect time for a NRL finals push.

The Tigers sealed a second successive victory with a 19-12 win over Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, an impressive display that saw them complete 92 per cent of their sets and consolidate their seventh-place spot.

Sheens rated the performance as the team's best of the season and it wasn't lost on him that it coincided with the Tigers' fearsome left-sided trio of Tuqiri, centre Chris Lawrence and English backrower Gareth Ellis all being available together for the first time since round one.

"Getting some of our key people has been a bonus, our left side looks stronger now, it is close to our best side but the real test is still to come," Sheens said.

Tuqiri showed no effects of spending a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury and while admitting he was still short on match fitness, he said he felt strong.

"We have struggled a bit with injuries this season, I have spent a lot of time on the sidelines with first my wrist injury and then my ankle and it was good to build some match fitness," Tuqiri told AAP.

"But it is great to have Chrissy (Lawrence) and Gaz (Ellis) back as well and fingers crossed we can all stay fit and build up our combinations again.

"We are almost back to full strength now and hopefully we can keep everybody fit and if we can, there is no reason why we can't go well in the finals.

"There is still a very long way to go, but tonight we completed our sets and looked sharp and that was pleasing."

Veteran coach Sheens was at pains to downplay any talk of finals, with his side facing Manly and St George Illawarra in their next two games.

"When you consider two weeks ago against Parramatta we were under 50 per cent, the boys have realised, play sensible, build some pressure and things will be easier," Sheens said.

"But the test will be next week against Manly and then St George where it will be a step up.

"We can't afford to to fall into the trap of 'we're back, here we come, the Tigers are the danger team' and all the crap I'm reading, we are the biggest danger to ourselves."

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