Wests Tigers Head Coach Mick Potter has exclusively revealed to Members one key replacement ahead of this afternoon’s team announcement.
Kurtis Rowe will make his NRL debut this weekend, replacing the injured James Tedesco at fullback for Saturday night’s match against North Queensland at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Another product of Keebra Park High School, Rowe excelled during his two seasons (2012 and 2013) in the Under 20s competition, scoring 38 tries in 45 matches.
The 20-year-old has made the transition through to the NSW Cup competition this season, where he has impressed Coach Potter.
“Kurtis will do a good job, he has been going really well in NSW Cup,” Potter said. “He is fast, has really good endurance and good vision.”
“He will be an asset and although he isn’t James Tedesco he will do a really good job.”
Part of the extended full time NRL squad, Rowe has trained the entire pre-season with Potter’s squad and is an excellent finisher.
“Kurtis has been working right through the pre-season with us and he is a player that is sort of a little bit quiet and unassuming but gets about his business really well,” Potter said.
“He is developing really well and has all the attributes to develop into an NRL player, certainly he gets a crack at it this week.
“Kurtis is a player with a bright future and has that essential ingredient of speed.
“He can sniff out opportunities and it will be good to see how he performs - he gets to do it against an in-form team and it will be a test for him.”
Rowe will be the first Wests Tigers player to make his NRL debut this year, with Luke Brooks and Nathan Brown the last debutants in Round 24 of the 2013 season.
Potter will name his side to face the Cowboys later this afternoon.
