http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,21092314-5006066,00.html
THE Steve Turner saga has taken another twist with one of the players involved in a proposed transfer to the Gold Coast Titans troubled by a potentially serious injury to his shoulder. Titans management has asked Storm rookie Smith Samau to visit a Melbourne specialist on Tuesday to determine whether he requires a shoulder reconstruction.
Smith, 20, and Daniel Isaac, 19, are the two Queensland-born juniors nominated to join the Titans as compensation for Turner remaining at the Storm. But the swap threatens to turn pear-shaped, with the Titans insisting they will not accept Samau - if he requires immediate surgery. The fullback or winger damaged his left shoulder, which had been operated upon previously, after a wrestling session at Storm training a fortnight ago.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright said: "If he had any reconstructive surgery we'd have to talk about the situation. We're not going to take a bloke who's going to be out for the season, put it that way. Smith has to see a specialist this weekand their surgeon will then report to our doctor.''
Samau's manager, Chris Orr, said his client was hopeful of joining the Gold Coast. "If he's 100 per cent he'll go ... but no club wants to buy a player that is going to play two games and do his shoulder,'' Orr said. "He visited the Titans the other day. He was a bit tentative but after meeting John Cartwright he could see the pathway to first grade is a positive one.''
Cartwright is impressed with the two juniors. The strongly-built Samau made his NRL debut against Manly last year, while Isaac is a 92kg centre or winger who represented the Australian Schoolboys last year.
"Both guys have a lot of potential,'' he said. "Daniel Isaac played a lot of Colts in Brisbane last year and I monitored him closely. He's an Australian Schoolboy and very strong. Smith has played first grade at only 20, so he's definitely got his best footy in front of him.''
It's turning into Days of our Drearies.
THE Steve Turner saga has taken another twist with one of the players involved in a proposed transfer to the Gold Coast Titans troubled by a potentially serious injury to his shoulder. Titans management has asked Storm rookie Smith Samau to visit a Melbourne specialist on Tuesday to determine whether he requires a shoulder reconstruction.
Smith, 20, and Daniel Isaac, 19, are the two Queensland-born juniors nominated to join the Titans as compensation for Turner remaining at the Storm. But the swap threatens to turn pear-shaped, with the Titans insisting they will not accept Samau - if he requires immediate surgery. The fullback or winger damaged his left shoulder, which had been operated upon previously, after a wrestling session at Storm training a fortnight ago.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright said: "If he had any reconstructive surgery we'd have to talk about the situation. We're not going to take a bloke who's going to be out for the season, put it that way. Smith has to see a specialist this weekand their surgeon will then report to our doctor.''
Samau's manager, Chris Orr, said his client was hopeful of joining the Gold Coast. "If he's 100 per cent he'll go ... but no club wants to buy a player that is going to play two games and do his shoulder,'' Orr said. "He visited the Titans the other day. He was a bit tentative but after meeting John Cartwright he could see the pathway to first grade is a positive one.''
Cartwright is impressed with the two juniors. The strongly-built Samau made his NRL debut against Manly last year, while Isaac is a 92kg centre or winger who represented the Australian Schoolboys last year.
"Both guys have a lot of potential,'' he said. "Daniel Isaac played a lot of Colts in Brisbane last year and I monitored him closely. He's an Australian Schoolboy and very strong. Smith has played first grade at only 20, so he's definitely got his best footy in front of him.''
It's turning into Days of our Drearies.
