WINGHAM captain-coach Kurt Lewis has confirmed former NRL star Jamal Idris will start in the front row for tomorrow’s Group Three Rugby League game against Old Bar at Wingham.
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This will be the club’s annual charity day with funds raised going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, the Asthma Foundation and the Cancer Council. Clubs are permitted guest players in these matches and as yet Lewis doesn’t know if this will be Idris’s one and only game for the club.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet,’’ Lewis said.
Idris, who now lives in the Byron Bay area, will train with the side tonight. Lewis said that Idris’s cousin. Thomas Dooker, looks certain to return from injury for the match to play. Dooker hasn’t played since injuring a shoulder in the group game in April.
Lewis understands Idris is in reasonably physical condition, despite not playing since early last year when he was with Penrith after suffering a knee injury. He was granted a release by the Panthers in November 2015
“He’s been doing a lot of cross training and apparently he’s alright,’’ Lewis said.
He’ll be in the run-on side.
“There’s no use wasting him,’’ Lewis said.
“I’m looking forward to learning a few things off him and it’ll be a big thing for the younger blokes in the side. Hopefully we’ll get a big crowd there and we can put on a show.’’
The Tigers will also welcome back top forwards Joel Kliendienst and Adam Dale along with Dooker tomorrow. All were missing when Wingham went down for the first time this season when beaten by Macleay Valley at Kempsey. It was a game Wingham should have won and Lewis rued the lost opportunity.
“We led by two tries with 15 minutes to go. Trent (Green) and I should have taken ownership of the game, but we didn’t,’’ Lewis pointed out.
He said the loss could come back to haunt the Tigers should the minor premiership be settled on a points equation. Lews had said previously he thought 12 wins would be enough to guarantee Wingham a top two berth this year. The Tigers currently have eight wins.
Meanwhile Wingham treasurer Craig Martin is confident Idris will boost the crowd by more than 300 tomorrow.
The Tigers gained a release from Penrith earlier this week. Idris also had stints with Canterbury and the Gold Coast while he has represented NSW and Australia.
Idris will be at the Wingham Sporting Complex from 12.30 tomorrow. The first grade game will kickoff at 3.15.
He will also attend a charity auction to be held at the Australian Hotel tomorrow night.
