Api Koroisau confirms that he will play in the next game

Api Koroisau has confirmed that he will play in the next game and revealed that he nearly missed Wests Tigers’ season opener last weekend.

Koroisau was a topic of discussion when he started on the bench against Gold Coast.

Legendary No.9 Cameron Smith believed that Koroisau should have been involved in the early exchanges rather than Jake Simpkin.

However, Koroisau explained that he had a calf complaint which hindered his preparations leading up to the game.

He did not participate in his first serious training session until three days before the match.

The Tigers will play Newcastle on Sunday, where they will host Jackson Hastings, the former playmaker whose reception from the hill is likely to be mixed.

Koroisau explained that he had a calf injury and didn’t train until the Thursday before the game, and the call to play was only made very late.

Koroisau was coming off the bench for Penrith towards the end of last season, with Mitch Kenny elevated to the run-on side. Kenny even started in the grand final.

Koroisau said that it was to get the sting out of the game, and it allowed Mitch Kenny to do a lot of the dirty work for him.

Koroisau admitted that he was unsure if coach Tim Sheens had long-term plans to use him as an 80-minute player.

The Tigers trained at their inner-western suburban ground on Thursday afternoon.

Rumours that John Bateman was struggling with an ankle injury and would not be available for a couple of months were quickly shot down by the playing group.

The back-rower is an outside chance to play next weekend against Canterbury but is more likely to make his debut in round four.

Koroisau said that Bateman is looking good at the moment, but he’s just come over from England and is trying to get some “ks” into his legs.