Lote Tuqiri admits he has no idea how he’ll fare in Wests Tigers NRL clash with South Sydney at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, but the former dual international is just happy at the prospect of playing again.
Tuqiri endured an injury-ravaged 2011, spending time on the sidelines with a broken arm and then a high ankle sprain and has missed the start of this campaign with a thumb injury that prevented him doing any ball work during pre-season.
The 32-year-old’s return is some welcome relief for the under-fire Tigers, who have lost three successive matches to sit just one place off the foot of the NRL ladder.
Tuqiri will bolster his side’s misfiring attack, but the former Queensland wide man has urged Tigers fans not to expect miracles from him in his first game back since the finals defeat by the Warriors last September.
“It’s been a while now,” Tuqiri said.
“I’ve been doing a lot of training, but it will be good to get the footy in my hands and hit the ball up in a game situation.
“Hopefully, I can make a bit of a difference. I don’t know how much. I’ll just go out there and do my job and, hopefully, that helps.”
The Tigers were tipped by many to be premiership contenders this year, and have been under the pump following three insipid performances, which has led to accusations of them being soft, culminating in a furious TV row between skipper Robbie Farah and Matthew Johns over the issue this week.
Tuqiri refused to get involved in the spat but said it will have no effect on the team going into the game.
“I’ve sort of gone under the radar with the sort of things that have been happening this week,” he said.
“I’ll just go out there and do my job. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself.”
Like the Tigers, Souths were tipped to be contenders, but also have a 1-3 record.
However, the move to switch Greg Inglis to fullback by coach Michael Maguire has proved to be an inspired one.
Tuqiri said the Tigers were wary of his presence in the No.1 shirt and would need to be on top of their kicking game if they were to have any chance of negating his influence on the game.
“We’ll need a good kicking game,” he said.
“A good kicking game comes with a good chase game, so we’re going to have to be on there and pin him in different places.”
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