Foley, Shaun

Shaun FOLEY [Player Stats]


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Roberts returns, Foley fullback and Harrison on the bench
Tue June 13, 2006
by Matthew O'Neill
Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart has relegated big name import Ashley Harrison to the bench in Saturday's must win game against defending Premiers Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium.

Harrison came to the Roosters as one of the few incumbent State of Origin players on the open market and has endured a miserable season where he's failed to live up to any hype and hasn't delivered for the Roosters. Harrison has lost the lock position to current Queensland utility Chris Flannery but he could earn a reprieve if Flannery is injured tomorrow night or Stuart makes last minute changes to the side.

Shaun Foley made an impressive debut on Sunday and has retained the fullback position with Amos Roberts returning onto the wing and Jamie Soward being dropped back to Premier League. Foley who comes from rugby union scored a strong try and did everything asked of him. He showed that he is a player of the future and one of the players that the Roosters should invest in for the long-term rather than importing in players.

Roberts has been the form Roosters player this season and his absence last week against the Warriors was telling. The return of Roberts along with Braith Anasta and Brett Finch from State of Origin duty gives the Roosters backline an all-star look about it and one that will put fear into the Wests Tigers.

Charles Tonga only received the final 12 minutes last week and has been retained on the bench with talented second-rower Nigel Plum being dropped to the Newtown Jets Premier League side along with John Doyle, Mickey Paea, Lalea Paea, Josh Lewis and Soward. Returning for the Roosters this weekend will be Roberts, Harrison, Finch, Anasta and Flannery.

Ironically Lewis will play halfback this weekend and Soward five-eighth after they played reserve roles in the Roosters NRL side last Sunday. Lewis was very impressive in his debut and there would have been temptations of a push from some Roosters staff members to keep Lewis at five-eighth and move Anasta into forwards. Anasta was bought as a direct replacement for Brad Fittler and moving into the pack would only be considered in the most desperate of circumstances even though he's a natural lock forward.

The Roosters need to have faith in the young players coming through the system than look at Roy Asotasi, Nate Myles, Ashton Sims, Justin Poore and Jamie Lyon - five players they've already been linked too in some form.

Despite being lowly placed on the table, the Roosters are the side most likely outside of the top 10 that can cause serious damage and still mount a reasonable challenge for the Premiership. Coach Stuart has a galaxy of fine players to choose from but hasn't been able to settle on a stable 1-17 squad with too many changes on a weekly basis and even before the game. The Roosters on paper and on depth should be in the top four and fans have the right to question why they aren't.

Sydney Roosters team vs Wests Tigers, Saturday 17th June, Telstra Stadium, 5:30pm:

1 Shaun Foley
2 Amos Roberts
3 Ryan Cross
4 Iosia Soliola
5 Vince Mellars
6 Braith Anasta
7 Brett Finch
8 Adrian Morley
9 Craig Wing
10 David Shillington
11 Anthony Tupou
12 Craig Fitzgibbon (c)
13 Chris Flannery

Subs:
14 Ashley Harrison
15 Shane Shackleton
16 Heath L'estrange
17 Charles Tonga

Team subject to last minute changes

Newtown Jets Big League Team
Round: 15
Date: 17th June
Venue: Henson park
Kick Off: 3.00pm
Opposition: Western Suburbs Magpies

1 Aiden Kirk
2 Aaron Lai
3 Lelea Paea
4 Sam Perrett
5 Troy Malcolm
6 Jamie Soward
7 Josh Lewis
8 Glenn Hall
9 John Doyle
10 Mickey Paea
11 Nigel Plum
12 Adam Schubert
13 Mitchell Aubusson

Subs:
15 Luke Gordon
16 Mark Edmondson
17 Frank-Paul Nuuausala
18 Daniel Dumas

====================================================================================================== 2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Sydney Roosters 9 games; 6 tries, 24 points. [View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] L 12-22 v Warriors (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 15 [17 Jun 06] L 14-26 v Tigers (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 16 [25 Jun 06] L 10-42 v Raiders (A). [FB] [View] Round 21 [30 Jul 06] W 40-20 v Cowboys (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t [View] Round 22 [06 Aug 06] L 18-32 v Knights (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] W 40-20 v Panthers (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 24 [20 Aug 06] L 26-40 v Eels (H). [FB] [View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] L 16-42 v Warriors (A). [FB] [View] Round 26 [02 Sep 06] L 16-36 v Dragons (H). [FB] ======================================================================================================

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