Could be all smoke and mirrors but...
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25949395-5012431,00.html
Stewart not ready for Storm rematch
Margie McDonald |
August 19, 2009
Article from:
The Australian
BRETT Stewart will have to wait at least another week before he resumes his stop-start NRL season.
Manly coach Des Hasler convened with Sea Eagles medical staff yesterday before deciding to give the 24-year-old star fullback another week of full training on his troublesome right knee.
He was left out of the 18 to travel to Melbourne for Sunday's second grand final rematch. The Storm won the first 22-8 in May.
The former Test No1 re-injured the joint in round six last April and had to have more surgery.
The extra week off gives stand-in custodian Michael Robertson another game at the back.
"I'm really enjoying my time at fullback," said Robertson who scored three tries in last year's grand final. "I get to touch the ball more often, sticking around the middle of the field in support, and I get even more practice under the high ball."
Robertson insists he is ready to hand the jersey back.
But it won't be at Olympic Park this weekend -- something Sea Eagles hooker Matt Ballin says is just fine.
"At the start of the year I think fullback was still a bit foreign to Robbo but he's got more and more comfortable. He's been one of our best players this past month," Ballin said.
"So there's not such a big rush to get Brett back. Having him away for so long, it's just great seeing him back running freely on the field."
It's been 17 weeks since Stewart played and combined with his four-week suspension for being drunk at Manly's season launch, he has played only two games this year.
For the Storm, Greg Inglis was again not named in the side after police charged him with assault. His next court date is in a week.
Forwards coach and former Storm prop Robbie Kearns said Melbourne's poor away record this season (4-7) had been a real concern all year.
Elsewhere, Canberra has Joel Monaghan returning for Sunday's match in Auckland against the Warriors but has lost experienced prop Scott Logan for the season, with scans revealing a fracture to his cheekbone.
For the Warriors, captain Steve Price (ribs) is back after three weeks out and centre Jerome Ropati (shoulder) returns.
