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Injured Vatuvei 'back too early'
By TONY SMITH - The Press | Monday, 07 July 2008
FIONA GOODALL/Fairfax Media
DOWN AGAIN: Injured NZ Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei says he came back too early from his fractured tibia but hops to be back in action soon.
Manu Vatuvei admits he may have "come back too early" to the NRL arena but hopes to be back on the Warriors wing in a few weeks.
The Kiwis flankman, who was in Christchurch for the Warriors Weekend promotion organised by the Canterbury Rugby League, made his return against Manly a fortnight ago after six weeks on the sideline with a broken leg.
Vatuvei scored the game's opening try when he swatted away two Sea Eagles tacklers on a 60m surge to the line.
"But I reinjured myself," Vatuvei said. "It's the same injury, a fracture to my tibia. It had healed around the bone, but it wasn't actually healed inside.
"I think I came back a bit early, but I was happy to play. I just want to get back on the field, but it won't be for a few weeks now."
Vatuvei said the injury was a blow because he had "started to find my form" after "a slow start to the season".
"It does frustrate me a bit ... but it's just part of the game. Some years you play every game and some years you seem to get injured all the time."
Vatuvei, 22, was one of the NRL's leading try-scorers with seven touchdowns until he suffered the leg fracture while scoring a try in a loss to the Gold Coast Titans on April 28. His try against Manly was his eighth in as many games and the 37th of his 66-match career.
He missed the Kiwis' centenary test against Australia in Sydney in May but should be fit for the World Cup tournament across the Tasman in October.
Vatuvei said that remained a goal, "but my first focus is the Warriors. If I play well for them and, after that, if the (Kiwis) selectors see me as one of the players for the World Cup, I will be keen for it."
He enjoyed his Christchurch visit despite the freezing weather. "It's the first time I've seen snow," the Auckland-raised Tongan said, but was disappointed the cold meant the "kids' games were cancelled".
Injured Vatuvei 'back too early'
By TONY SMITH - The Press | Monday, 07 July 2008
DOWN AGAIN: Injured NZ Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei says he came back too early from his fractured tibia but hops to be back in action soon.
Manu Vatuvei admits he may have "come back too early" to the NRL arena but hopes to be back on the Warriors wing in a few weeks.
The Kiwis flankman, who was in Christchurch for the Warriors Weekend promotion organised by the Canterbury Rugby League, made his return against Manly a fortnight ago after six weeks on the sideline with a broken leg.
Vatuvei scored the game's opening try when he swatted away two Sea Eagles tacklers on a 60m surge to the line.
"But I reinjured myself," Vatuvei said. "It's the same injury, a fracture to my tibia. It had healed around the bone, but it wasn't actually healed inside.
"I think I came back a bit early, but I was happy to play. I just want to get back on the field, but it won't be for a few weeks now."
Vatuvei said the injury was a blow because he had "started to find my form" after "a slow start to the season".
"It does frustrate me a bit ... but it's just part of the game. Some years you play every game and some years you seem to get injured all the time."
Vatuvei, 22, was one of the NRL's leading try-scorers with seven touchdowns until he suffered the leg fracture while scoring a try in a loss to the Gold Coast Titans on April 28. His try against Manly was his eighth in as many games and the 37th of his 66-match career.
He missed the Kiwis' centenary test against Australia in Sydney in May but should be fit for the World Cup tournament across the Tasman in October.
Vatuvei said that remained a goal, "but my first focus is the Warriors. If I play well for them and, after that, if the (Kiwis) selectors see me as one of the players for the World Cup, I will be keen for it."
He enjoyed his Christchurch visit despite the freezing weather. "It's the first time I've seen snow," the Auckland-raised Tongan said, but was disappointed the cold meant the "kids' games were cancelled".
