NSW halfback Trent Barrett given weekend off Origin training
By Nick Walshaw and wires | June 19, 2009 05:45pm
NSW five-eighth Trent Barrett will be given the weekend off training as the Blues hope the injured playmaker can recover from back spasms to lead the side into Origin battle next Wednesday.
Barrett sent a massive scare through the Blues camp in Gosford when he pulled out midway through Friday's first full team training session with a back complaint.
While it was supposed to be judgment day for injured stars Robbie Farah (ribs), Craig Wing (hamstring), Paul Gallen (shoulder) and Jamie Lyon (ankle), the Blues were instead left with an even bigger headache with concerns over the 31-year-old.
Farah, Wing, Gallen and Lyon all trained strongly to convince coaching staff they were ready to play next week, but the uncertainty over Barrett is a distraction the Blues could ill-afford. Wing was forced to run at five-eighth for most of the session as a frustrated Barrett was treated by team doctors. Barrett will be assessed again on Saturday morning, but is not expected to train with the team again until Monday, after the Blues return from their day off.
If Barrett does not recover well then Blues officials may place another player - possibly dumped Origin I five-eighth Terry Campese or Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen - on standby for the game.
It is not the first time Barrett has struggled with his back, he almost missed an NRL game for Cronulla earlier in the season due to the complaint.
NSW physiotherapist Tony Ayoub expects Barrett to pull up very sore from his latest drama, but is confident he will be fit to train next week and play against the Maroons.
"It's more precautionary than anything else,'' said Ayoub. "He is not a spring chicken any more. We are just trying to look after him and make sure he does not flare up any more than he has.
"We are training on some wet grounds over the last couple of days and it's probably taken a toll on some of the boys and Trent being a little bit older and with a few little injuries he has had in the past we're just trying to look after him.
"At this stage there is no doubt ... he will play.''
Ayoub said Barrett will be rested on Saturday, but the coaching staff want him back for Monday's main training session and Tuesday's captain's run. "Monday is probably the latest we would want him to train,'' he said.
"Tomorrow hopefully we will sit him out for that, depending on what the coach wants. If he is a little bit stiff in the morning I don't want to take any chances, particularly with the grounds the way they are. We will work towards Monday and he will train Monday and Tuesday and hopefully play Wednesday.''
The concern around Barrett took the focus off NSW's other injury worries who all trained strongly. They face another searching session on Saturday, but unless they suddenly pull up sore, Ayoub doesn't expect any more injury troubles.
"They have all pulled through okay,'' he said. "They will have a bigger hit out tomorrow so we are not too concerned with them at the moment.''
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25659322-5006066,00.html
This is Bullsh*t. The weekend off?
Get someone in there who can prepare Bellamy you clown!
