Heighington Ready to Make a Comeback for Tigers
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SPORT sundayterritorian.com.au Plum ripe for Penrith HE’S had a career blighted Dragons fire late by injuries and bad luck, but it’s been a week of celebration for Penrith enforcer Nigel Plum. The 29-year-old is widely acknowledged as one of the biggest hitters in the game, but since making his debut to deny Parramatta for Sydney Roosters in 2005, the second-rower has been plagued by injuries DRAGONS V EELS and has made just 82 NRL appearances. A LATE try from centre Kyle He enjoyed a strong Stanley gave St George season last year, playing 20 Illawarra a hard-fought games and was rewarded 14-12 win over a gallant with a new two-year deal. Parramatta side at Kogarah However, his injury curse — breaking the Dragons’ struck again when he sus- three-game losing streak. tained a serious shoulder in- The desperate Dragons jury at training, requiring kept the ball alive to allow the more surgery. powerful centre to crash over But after becoming a fath- on the right edge. er for the second time on Stanley had also opened his Tuesday, Plum then found team’s scoring with a try in out later that day he was be- PUB: the 20th minute. ing thrown back into first But home fans were made grade by Panthers coach to sweat right to the end with Ivan Cleary for today’s clash winger Daniel Vidot defusing with Manly at Centrebet NT NEWS a towering Jarryd Hayne Stadium. bomb near his own goal-line ‘‘It’s been a fantastic seconds before full-time. week,’’ Plum said. The Dragons trailed 12-4 at Plum was pencilled in to half-time with the Eels on return to action in round 20, track to win just their second but his excellent progress in game of the season. rehab has seen him return DATE: Against the run of the play to action three months ear- six minutes into the second lier than expected. half, the Dragons hit back. ‘‘I did the same shoulder Fullback Brett Morris in 2007 but the specialist 27-MAY-2012 scored a 70m try after accept- was able to perform a pro- ing a pass from winger Jason cedure that speeded up the Nightingale, who broke some rehab,’’ he said. feeble right edge defence, and ‘‘I can’t wait to get out Jamie Soward’s conversion there and help the boys, and made it 12-10. start turning our season Parramatta started brill- around.’’ iantly with five-eighth Casey McGuire scoring after just PAGE: two minutes from a Chris Sandow cross-field kick, with Cronk plays Luke Burt converting. The Dragons were able to to exhaustion 62 hit back on 20 minutes with Stanley crashing over in the WEARY Melbourne Storm COLOR: right corner following a tap halfback Cooper Cronk isn’t back from a leaping Vidot af- prepared to lighten his load ter a Soward cross-field kick. despite his side crushing But Vidot went from hero their nearest ladder rivals to villain a few minutes later Brisbane on Friday night. when he dropped the ball in- Cronk played 80 minutes C side the 30m and the Eels in Queensland’s opening made them pay. State of Origin victory on M Back-rower Matthew Ryan Wednesday and then backed charged onto a perfect up to help steer Melbourne Y Sandow short ball and beat to a 34-10 romp over the K three Dragons to score next to second-placed Broncos. the posts as the visitors took In the past, Cronk has a 12-4 lead with Luke Burt’s come off the bench for the easy conversion. Maroons, so two heavy-duty games in the space of 48 DRAGONS 14 hours was a new experi- ence. But the 28-year-old EELS 12 was in fine form, playing a St George Illawarra: K role in a number of the Stanley 2 B Morris tries; J Storm’s tries. Soward goal Storm and Queensland Parramatta: C McGuire M skipper Cameron Smith, Ryan tries; L Burt 2 goals who started off the bench, Crowd: 12,756 at WIN Jubilee Oval said his teammate had Referees: Jared Maxwell, played himself to a stand- Tony De Las Heras still by the final whistle. St George Illawarra’s Kyle Stanley bustles over the line to score the match-winning try against the Eels Picture: GETTY IMAGES ‘‘He was a bit buggered out there the little fella,’’ Smith said. ‘‘You could see the effect on him because it’s a bit different to what Heighington ready to make a comeback for Tigers he’s been used to — but, I thought he handled himself WESTS Tigers back-rower about his comeback, Heighin- form like he did — I’m really ‘‘It’s been six long weeks rence trained this week and well and he set up a couple Chris Heighington has been a gton was more worried about proud of him. Hopefully, he but I’ve been able to do a lot of is expected to play after being of good tries for us.’’ bit nervous this week but it’s his Tigers captain and friend brings that form back to club running — they’ve been flog- forced off the ground with a Cronk himself said he had had nothing to do with him Robbie Farah, who made a level again.’’ ging me and it’s been like a hamstring in the win over the no qualms about backing making his return from terrific return to Origin for Despite his lay off, mini pre-season for me, and Warriors last week. up, despite some of his injury against North Queens- NSW on Wednesday night. Heighington feels anything I’m really looking forward to Tigers coach Tim Sheens Queensland teammates in land today. Heighington was desperate but underdone going into the Sunday,’’ he said. has called on his side to be the Brisbane side doing so. Heighington lines up to see his mate steer the Blues Cowboys clash. The Tigers meet a Cowboys more consistent for 80 min- ‘‘It’s obviously tough, I’m against the Cowboys at to victory. The Tigers sit just inside side who are vulnerable utes this afternoon. not going to lie about that Campbelltown in his first ap- ‘‘I was nervous going into the top eight and are shooting with Johnathan Thurston, ‘‘We’re in and out of games but that’s what’s required,’’ pearance since he broke his the game,’’ Heighington said. for five-straight wins against Matthew Scott, James Tamou in patches,’’ Sheens said. ‘‘We Cronk said. ‘‘To come out hand in the Round 6 loss to ‘‘I know how much it the Cowboys who are chasing and Brent Tate all backing up need to start a little better here with the fans and the Brisbane early last month. means for Robbie and to get four consecutive victories from Origin. ... we can’t be chasing down expectation, it’s just what Instead of being concerned that chance again, and to per- and a place in the top four. Tigers centre Chris Law- 10 and 14 points at half-time.’’ you’ve got to do.’’ 62 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, May 27, 2012. www.sundayterritorian.com.au.