Benji Marshall has been forced into a back-line shuffle.
Wests Tigers fans will likely get their wish and see Latu Fainu starting in the halves this weekend. But it’s come at a cost, with fullback Jahream Bula set to miss the next 4-6 weeks.
Vision has emerged of the moment Bula pulled up lame while chasing a kick on the final play of the Tigers’ 16-12 loss to Canberra last Friday. The fullback went streaming through on a grubber from Jarome Luai, and toed the ball ahead as the Tigers looked for a miracle try to win the game.
But Bula hurt his hamstring while reaching down to grab the ball, and could be seen limping around afterwards. The 23-year-old is set to miss the next 4-6 weeks – a cruel blow considering it occurred on the final play of the game.
The injury will spark a reshuffle in the Tigers’ backline, with Heath Mason likely to switch from five-eighth to fullback. That would see Fainu handed the starting No.6 role after coming off the bench in the last two games.
Andrew Johns calls for Jarome Luai and Latu Fainu switch
The Tigers looked much better in attack when Fainu was brought on to replace Mason at five-eighth in the second half against the Raiders. They won the second half 12-0, but couldn’t reel in the Raiders at the death.
Fainu is viewed as the Tigers’ long-term No.6 and part of the reason the club was willing to part ways with Lachie Galvin. But if legendary halfback Andrew Johns had his way, Fainu would have the No.7 on his back and Luai would revert to No.6.
Luai won four premierships with the Panthers while playing five-eighth, but moved to the Tigers on a $6 million deal for the extra responsibility of playing halfback. But according to Johns, Benji Marshall would be better off with Luai at 6 and Fainu 7.
Fainu is viewed as the Tigers’ long-term No.6 and part of the reason the club was willing to part ways with Lachie Galvin. But if legendary halfback Andrew Johns had his way, Fainu would have the No.7 on his back and Luai would revert to No.6.
