Easts Tigers coach Scott Sipple happy with how his team has dealt with mounting injury list
THE form of the Easts Tigers has been inconsistent in recent weeks but with a mounting injury list their coach says he is happy with how his team has fought.
South East
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A HOME win over the Townsville Blackhawks in Round 12 had the Easts Tigers feeling good about their Intrust Super Cup premiership hopes.
Fast forward seven weeks later and the Tigers are fighting to stay in the competition’s top six after some inconsistent form in recent weeks, including a 20-10 loss to Souths Logan last round.
But Easts have struggled to put anything resembling their best 17 out on the field since the win over the Blackhawks, with a mounting injury list and the absence of key players from the Melbourne Storm such as forwards Matt White and Christian Welch.
Scott Sipple’s side has been forced to play without one of their best playmakers in rising star Billy Walters for more than a month, were missing skipper Dane Hogan and will be without their two first-choice centres for the rest of the season.
The Tigers even had to call Isaac Kauffman out of retirement earlier this month.
But Sipple said he was proud of the way his team has battled in recent weeks despite sitting just four points clear of sixth-placed Ipswich.
“I think the boys have done a great job to stay positive and do what they can do,” he said.
“It’s obviously hard playing without so many of your first-choice players but we’ve been able to give some playing time to some younger guys, who have now experienced the Intrust Super Cup level.
“That can only help us as a club and stand us in good stead for the future because it will help our depth. Everyone who has been called on, has stepped up.”
On Sunday, the Tigers will try and do something no other team has achieved this season — beat the Hunters in Papua New Guinea.
A win could have them in the top three while a loss could put their finals hopes in further danger.
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