Comeback stalled as Cross nurses knee injury

[Pumba]

Comeback stalled as Cross nurses knee injury
BY ROBERT DILLON

LUCKLESS Knights prop Ben Cross may need to wait another week before he launches his long-awaited comeback.

Cross, who has not played since rupturing his biceps last April, has been struggling with a knee injury in recent days and coach Rick Stone conceded the 2008 NSW Origin representative would need to improve rapidly to take his place in Saturday's trial match against his former club, Melbourne, at St John Oval.

"He's had a little bit of a spasm in his knee . . . not finishing the last two sessions is not a good sign," Stone said.

"We'll possibly have a look at Crossy on Thursday and see how he's going, but at this stage you'd have to say he's pretty doubtful."

There was also some concern yesterday for another of Newcastle's long-term casualties, prop Dan Tolar, who limped from the training pitch yesterday with an ankle problem. Tolar played in just one match last year, suffering a fractured kneecap in the season-opener against Gold Coast.

Initially he expected to spend two or three months on the sidelines, but the Central Charlestown junior experienced complications and eventually had four bouts of surgery, which wrote off his season.

Stone said he expected Tolar to play on Saturday on his former home ground.

"I don't think Dan's in too much doubt," Stone said.

"We've just been monitoring a couple of things with Dan, especially the volume of his sessions.

"I'm pretty confident Dan will be right by Saturday."

Tolar had his ankle in an ice bucket after training yesterday but said it was only as a precaution.

"It's nothing too major," Tolar said. "It was just starting to get a bit sore, so I pulled up before it got any worse.

"I should be fine for Saturday."

The 27-year-old said his knee was "getting there" and had improved steadily in recent weeks.

"It's still not quite 100 per cent, but hopefully in a couple more weeks I'll be right," he said.

Stone said he would take no chances with Shannon McDonnell, who shapes as the likely replacement fullback if skipper Kurt Gidley is sidelined long-term with a knee injury.

McDonnell has been struggling with a hip problem.

Herald

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Just rest them FFS, loosing Gids is bad enough last thing we need to do is loose our punch up front as well.

 

[Yosh]

So, how much has this guy cost us per game so far?

 

[Hanscholo]

Worst signing ever. All aboard!

 

[Frederick]

Worst signing ever. All aboard!

For mine Reynoldson still has that gong

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Madpup deserves an honourable mention.

Cross to ESL anyone?

Unless he gets 20+ match's for us he should definately be cut loose. Or be offered an incentives based contract. But preferably cut loose.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

I have no doubt Cross will be back at the storm or else off to ESL in 2011. I would like above all else for the knights board to be challenged and overhauled by a new group of people with contacts and vision. Smith was that vision and he has now departed. Tinkler should fund the challenge. Our board is sadly not up to it. No offence to the board but you have to know when your time is up. If you can't attract a player almost noone wants, especially when his family lives in the area and he has apoint to prove to you personally, the you have Buckley's of signing a Mortimer or Inu.

 

[perverse]

if cross has a shred of decency in him, he'd take a much smaller contract for another year or 2 and try and repay the club for the big fat paycheques he's been sitting on his arse and collecting.

if he wants even remotely the same figures he's earning now, he can piss right off. i'd keep him... but only at mates rates.