WRIGHT STUFF

COWBOY UP FOR SHOT AT KEY PANTHER

RISING Cowboys forward Shane Wright was put under the microscope by the Knights last weekend, but it has only steeled him ahead of another arduous test.

Wright was forced to make 41 tackles on the right side, as Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga threw everything he had at the second-rower.

He was found out on a few occasions, missing five crucial tackles, but it has not dented the 23-year-old's confidence.

"These things happen in football. Kalyn is a really good footballer and he is hard to defend one-on-one," Wright said.

"I know the areas I need to work on and I know how to fix them.

"The boys were in my ear saying it is not the last time it is going to happen to you, and it's not the last person he is going to do that to. I just need to use it as a learning curve to move on and better myself.

"We have confidence every week and nothing changes that this week. We just need to fix some things, work on a few combinations and we should get the job done."

But the job does not get any easier for Wright, as lie comes face-to-face with another former Cowboy tonight in Vilia-me Kikau.

The 119kg Fijian has estab-lished himself as one of the most damaging edge runners in the NRL this season, with a mix of speed and footwork at the line causing havoc for op-position defences.

Tackling the Panthers for-ward has proven near imposs-ible this season, with Kikau already racking up 45 tackle breaks and nine line breaks over 15 games.

Despite the statistics being against him, Wright is not shy-ing away from the challenge.

"It is another big task this weekend. Big frame and skilful as well,* he said "I have got to be good in the defence area.

"I have a job to do and I have to turn up with the right attitude.

"It is definitely something you always want to do, test yourself against the best play-ers. It is another challenge, an-other learning curve that I am excited to rip into."

The Panthers are expected to show plenty of intent at 1300SMILES Stadium tonight with their finals hopes on the line against the Cowboys.

But the Cowboys also have plenty to play for, with the side searching for pride after a run of five straight losses.

"Personally I was a bit em-barrassed (after last week). Everyone was disappointed with the effort and are keen to rip in and reverse that this weekend," Wright said.

"It definitely makes us hun-gry to turn it around.

"It is lucky we had a shorter turnaround, we were able to get the review out of the way and get straight back into training.

'We haven't been good at home at all (this season).

"It is really disappointing but I guess we have two more chances to change that. We need a few more wins to send out the stadium on a high."