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Payton hails Ellis ‘the best he’s ever played with’

Todd Payten, the veteran prop for WESTS Tigers, praised Gareth Ellis as the best player he has ever had the privilege of playing alongside after the English backrower overcame immense pain to assist his team in securing a victory against Canberra on Friday.

Despite being in serious doubt to participate due to a back injury, Ellis scored a try and delivered an outstanding performance in the close 26-24 NRL semi-final win after spending much of the week in a hyperbaric chamber.

Next Saturday, the Tigers are set to face St George Illawarra for the chance to enter the grand final, and Payten, who is managing his own knee and toe injuries, remarked that Ellis serves as an inspiration to his teammates.

“I couldn’t believe he was able to play. He’s easily the toughest player I’ve ever played with,” Payten expressed.

“To play with two bulging discs last week is incredible. He’s the best player I’ve ever had the chance to play alongside. He’s just so tough … I look up to him.”

Payten himself was uncertain about his participation in the game; the 31-year-old admitted that he would again be unable to train this week before the matchup with the minor premiers.

“I wasn’t sure [if I would play] until game day, as I hadn’t run all week. Once I got the needle, I was able to run; once that’s sorted, everything is good,” he mentioned.

“I’m currently struggling to walk, so I probably won’t train until game day again, but I should be fine.”

Aiming to become the first Englishman to win a grand final since Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley in 2002, Ellis may return to the hyperbaric chamber this week leading up to the clash with the Dragons.

“It worked well for me … there’s no harm in continuing,” Ellis stated.

“It’s one of those things where you don’t always notice the benefits, but if it’s working, then it’s working. This is the time of year when you have to check all the boxes and do everything right.”

Ellis acknowledged that the Tigers will need to elevate their performance against Wayne Bennett’s team if they wish to replicate their 2005 victory over the Dragons at the same stage of the competition.

“It was always going to be tough against Canberra, yet we were still able to create opportunities and had moments where we simply were the typical Tigers, despite a few concentration lapses,” he commented.

“But there were just a few one-on-one tackles, elements that can be improved upon; nothing major structurally.

“We’ll have to step it up, as the Dragons are a formidable team, and we’ll definitely need to enhance our performance to advance in the competition.”

Buford Balony says: Best Englishman to ever play in Australia.

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