WINGHAM Tigers have called on their Mr Fixit, utility Brodie Myer, to fill the fullback spot vacated by the injured Jared 'JJ' Gibson for the Saturday's Group Three Rugby League game against competition leaders Port Macquarie at Wingham.
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Myer has played most backline positions for the Tigers in recent years. He gets the opportunity at fullback to replace Gibson, after the promising custodian snapped his shinbone midway through the first half in the heavy loss to Old Bar last weekend.
"JJ's obviously gone for the year,'' captain-coach Mick Sullivan said.
"A shout out to him. JJ's a great kid and he's been a great acquisition for the Tigers in the last couple of years. Hopefully he'll be right to play next season.''
Gibson has the unique record with Wingham, winning a reserve grade premiership before an under 18 title.
He was drafted into Wingham's grand final winning reserve grade team in 2019 and then returned to under 18s last year when there was no senior football. He was named player of the match in Wingham's win over Old Bar in the under 18 decider last season.
Play was delayed for three quarters of an hour last Sunday at Wingham waiting for an ambulance to arrive after Gibson was injured.
While the loss of Gibson is a blow, Sullivan has full confidence in the versatile Myer.
"Brodie will do the job for us,'' Sullivan added.
"He always has in the past.''
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Wingham went into last weekend's game on the back of successive wins. However, they were out of contention against the Pirates by halftime when down 36-0 before eventually going down 56-12.
"They're the best team we've played this year,'' Sullivan said of the Pirates
"They got clean ball out wide and they had great shape to get us on the edges.''
He admitted the Tigers were never in the hunt against Old Bar apart from a brief time early in the second half when they ran in successive converted tries.
"We just missed the kick early and didn't recover,'' Sullivan said.
He added that a strong performance against the co-competition leaders on Saturday would be an appropriate reply.
This is the second successive home game for Wingham and will be followed by a clash against Macleay Valley on June 20, with no football on the long weekend. The Tigers would need to come out the other side with at least one win if they are going to press for a top three berth.
"I want them to be competitive this weekend,'' Sullivan said.
"And I'm sure they will be.''
The Sharks overpowered Taree City at Taree last weekend.
Taree City assistant coach Troy Betts described the Sharks as the 'benchmark' for the competition.
