Nic Nat comeback on hold for now

Missing you ... Nic Nat still on the sidelines. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Nic Naitanui's comeback is on hold indefinitely in a major blow to West Coast's 2013 premiership aspirations.

Last year's All-Australian ruckman is still struggling with groin soreness and is unable to step up his training load to the level required.

Eagles coach John Worsfold admitted the club didn't know when Naitanui would be able to resume full training.

When he does, the 22-year-old will then require three weeks of solid training before being ready to play a match.

It is understood a cautious West Coast are prepared to be without Naitanui for virtually the first half of the season if it means he can be fit for the remainder and be primed for an impact in the finals.

A frank Worsfold was prepared to be without Naitanui for some time.

"He hasn't been able to step up to anywhere near full training yet," he said.

"If he steps up and has a harder session and gets sore, then his next session can't be harder again.

"So really you don't know. He could just progress through every session and be up and going in a few weeks.

"Or if he keeps getting some soreness as he progresses up, we'll just stay at that level for a little bit longer.

"We want to prepare Nic to be able to come in and play full games. We probably won't go down the option of giving him a half a game in a reserves team somewhere.

"It's likely we'll just train him up until he's really ready to go. So that may hold him back till he is actually playing footy again."

The Eagles are prepared to be conservative with one of the most valuable commodities on their playing list.

"These injuries can linger over the course of full seasons and multiple seasons," Worsfold said.

"We don't want that to happen."

In better news, midfielder Daniel Kerr is likely to make his comeback following knee surgery for East Fremantle in the WAFL on Saturday.

West Coast host Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

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Easter Benny ready for big comeback

Barba ... is itching to get back into playing this weekend. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Ben Barba has been training in game simulation for the past few days, ready for his return to rugby league this Friday afternoon.

A crowd of up to 40,000 is expected at ANZ Stadium for the match between Barba's Bulldogs and the unbeaten South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Canterbury-Bankstown coach Des Hasler will release his side for the South Sydney game on Tuesday - Barba being the first name every fan will see on the club's team sheet.

Those close to Barba say he "is in good spirits and ready to go".

Barba has been back in training for a fortnight after his release from a drug and alcohol rehab centre on Sydney's northern beaches.

He hasn't played an NRL game this season, his last hit-out being the pre-season All Stars game in Brisbane.

"Ben wants to play and he has a good attitude," said Steve Mortimer, the Bulldogs' greatest player.

"It's great he'll be playing, not only for the Bulldogs' sake but for himself as a person. Football is great therapy for Ben although it (his rehab) isn't finished yet. He is in the right position to play footy again."

Souths halfback Adam Reynolds said: "It's good for the game and the Bulldogs definitely missed him."

With 90,000 fans expected to attend the Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park on Good Friday, football fans are being encouraged to take advantage of integrated ticketing, with the cost of public transport included in the game-day ticket.

Direct trains will run to Sydney Olympic Park every 10 minutes and major event buses will run across Sydney. 

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Tigers hold off late Eels comeback

Wests Tigers ... claw over Parramatta Eels in Friday's round three clash. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Wests Tigers hold off a late fight back from Parramatta to secure 31-18 victory in Friday night?s clash at Leichhardt Oval.

5 Tries 3
Chris Lawrence 4'	Ryan Morgan 43'
Chris Lawrence 20'	Vai Toutai 68'
Blake Ayshford 31'	Jacob Loko 70'
Benji Marshall 48'
Tim Moltzen 51'
4 Conversions 3
Benji Marshall 6'	Chris Sandow 44'
Benji Marshall 22'	Chris Sandow 69'
Benji Marshall 49'	Chris Sandow 71'
Benji Marshall 52'
1 Penalties 0
Benji Marshall 18'
1 Field Goals 0
Jacob Miller 74'

Two tries in the opening 20 minutes from Chris Lawrence laid the foundations for the Tigers' comfortable lead after the Eels twice coughed up the ball deep in their own half.

Mitchell Allgood and Jarryd Hayne were both guilty of losing possession and the hosts took full advantage, twice spreading the ball to the left and Lawrence muscled his way past Chris Sandow to score.

The Eels struggled to get out of their own half as the Tigers laid siege but should have scored from their first genuine attack after a booming 40-20 from Sandow found touch.

However, Allgood dropped the ball as he crossed the line and the chance went begging.

With the newly re-signed Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall dominating, the Eels could not get a foothold on the game and they didn't help their cause by giving away needless penalties.

The visitors were made to pay on the half-hour mark when Blake Ayshford darted over in the right corner to stretch his side's advantage.

The Eels almost reduced the deficit on the stroke of halftime when Hayne made a great break down the left wing.

He released Vai Toutau, who in turn found Jacob Loko, but the young centre, under pressure from Farah, butchered the chance to score just in front of the line.

18-0 at the break, the Eels started the second half with a big through a Ryan Morgan try.

However with a penalty to the Tigers, Marshall took advantage of a napping defence and ran 70 meters to extend their lead.

A defensive error from Vai Toutai in his own in goal gifted Tim Moltzen a four-pointer although the winger did score one of his own to atone for the earlier mistake. 

Loko then crossed two minutes later and Sandow's conversion made it a 12 point ball game. 

Miller nailed a field goal in the 73rd minute. 

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