Nightmare injury run continues for Wicks

[Pumba]

Nightmare injury run continues for Wicks
BY ROBERT DILLON

DANNY Wicks's hopes for a smooth pre-season have been dashed after he returned from Newcastle's pre-season boot camp at Singleton Army Base with an abdominal muscle injury.

The heavyweight prop had scans taken yesterday and will visit Dr Neil Halpin today.

Having experienced a nightmarish pre-season 12 months ago, punctuated by a mystery virus, torn ligament in his neck and torn abdominals, Wicks was disappointed last night to again be facing a stint of physio and rehabilitation instead of full training.

"It must be my pre-season hoodoo," he said.

"I tore it [his abdominals] last year and the year before that as well. I don't think I've had a proper pre-season since I started playing footy, so I suppose I'm used to it by now."

Wicks gained some solace from the knowledge that he had plenty of time to recover for Newcastle's 2010 trials, unlike last season, when his first on-field action was against Manly in round four.

"It's before Christmas, early in the piece, so I'm not too concerned," he said.

Newcastle's players were pushed to their physical limits during their three-day camp at Singleton, embarking on a host of military-style exercises, but Wicks said his injury occurred in a routine training session.

"'We were just doing some footy skills," he said.

"It's very sore but hopefully it won't set me back too much."

Newcastle's other casualty from the camp was rookie prop Joel Edwards, who was nursing torn ligaments after rolling an ankle.

* Former Knights prop Dane Tilse has extended his contract with the Canberra Raiders through to 2012.

Herald

 

[roopy]

A torn stomach muscle could takes months to get over - it is his largest muscle by far, and the one he tackles with.

The good news from that article is that Joel Edwards is still in the squad, and hopefully ankle ligaments won't slow him down for more than a week or two.

I'm his only fan i think, and i want you all to remember that when he is our starting prop in firstgrade - no bandwagon jumpers.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Atleast we got Wicks cheap, I foresee plenty of time in the real NRL.

And cant comment on Edwards havent seen him yet but as with every rookie always keen to see em go around!

 

[Jono078]

Atleast we got Wicks cheap, I foresee plenty of time in the real NRL.

And cant comment on Edwards havent seen him yet but as with every rookie always keen to see em go around!

Sarcasm?

Always something with Wicks, whether it's his fault or not, I couldn't care less if he moved on now.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Remember he signed a extension for a much reduced rate apparently.

I still cant believe we signed him for $250-$275k if thats true.

 

[Jono078]

Even with his reduction he is probably our second highest paid front rower behind Cross

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Scary f**king thought aye? If Richie can get his hands under control he could be anything sadly his been to about what 4 different clubs now and none have succeeded in curing has case of "dropsies"

 

[Jono078]

This year was an exceptional year by Fa'aoso, he was amazing for us after his first 4 or so games where he was living up to his reputation of feet for hands.

I think he and Cross starting could be lethal starting combination, but then we need to find someone who can provide the impact off the bench like he did this year.

I still believe Wicks can be one of the best impact props at least, but if he doesn't improve by a bit next year he can leave.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Love Richie off the bench its sad that his probably our best front rower(or will be next year) but the impact he makes off the bench really turns up the momentum for us. So I'd hate to see him start.

A starting front row of Mark and Benny would be the G O IMO.

With Tolar playing "left right out"

 

[Joker's Wild]

Tolar over Wicks any day of the week

Big fatty fat fats just diesnt get the job done when the hard yards are needed. His defence is bloody awful too

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'd love to see Fa'aoso and Cross start in the front row. It would be like having the chief and butts back in the team leading the boys forward. Having a bloke like tolar on the bench could very well be an asset. When the team starts to tire, his mobility and his great ability to offload could make him a perfect bench player.

 

[cram]

There was a letter in the Newcastle Paper this morning tell the Knights management to hurry up and sign Wicks as he was just he player we need and Brian Smith might snap him up.... lmao

 

[perverse]

he's an absolute soft c**k.

 

[Johns Magic]

8. Cross
9. De Gois
10. Simpson
11. Houston
12. Taia
13. Hilder

14. Fa'aoso
15. Tuimavave
16. Paterson
17. Taufua/Wicks

I think Tolar will struggle to get back in. His role of the efficient, tight prop around the ruck has been usurped by Taufua, who to me is a player with far more potential for improvement.

I still like the idea of Hilder at lock. And it was a close call between Houston and Paterson for a starting spot.

 

[Frederick]

8. Cross
9. De Gois
10. Simpson
11. Houston
12. Taia
13. Hilder

14. Fa'aoso
15. Tuimavave
16. Paterson
17. Taufua/Wicks

I think Tolar will struggle to get back in. His role of the efficient, tight prop around the ruck has been usurped by Taufua, who to me is a player with far more potential for improvement.

I still like the idea of Hilder at lock. And it was a close call between Houston and Paterson for a starting spot.

+1

 

[Serc]

If Richie can get his hands under control he could be anything sadly his been to about what 4 different clubs now and none have succeeded in curing has case of "dropsies"

Didn't he manage to fix that earlier this year? Played the majority of this season with a safe pair of hands from what I recall.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Yeah he did Serc, his hands were very good this year.

Perhaps the Baron is still stuck in 2008

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Not only were his hands good, but he had a quality offload on occasions. I think JW makes a fair point.

 

[Rudderriffic]

Yeah he did Serc, his hands were very good this year.

Perhaps the Baron is still stuck in 2008

Actually his hands are almost exactly the same as '08.

Season 2008 Fa'aoso played 694 minutes and made 12 errors, so that's around about an error every 58 minutes.

Season 2009 Fa'aoso played 990 minutes and made 18 errors, which would be an error every 55 minutes.

To be fair though, he was averaging more runs per game this year (about 2 a game more). Even with that said, his hands haven't shown any real change, be it for better, or worse.

Interesting thing to note is that the amount of penalties Richie gave away went up by a moderate amount this year (one every 62 ish minutes as opposed to one every 77 minutes in '08). He was tied with Rogers for most penalised Knight.

As for Wicks, I don't see a place for him in our full strength 17. JM's forward pack looks the goods, only possible change I would make would be to start Tafua in place of Simpson. I think we're better to get Simpson to focus on quality minutes after the opening stanza next year, as opposed to making the old warhorse slog in out in a battle of the ruck early on.

 

[Rolla]

As for Wicks, I don't see a place for him in our full strength 17. JM's forward pack looks the goods, only possible change I would make would be to start Tafua in place of Simpson. I think we're better to get Simpson to focus on quality minutes after the opening stanza next year, as opposed to making the old warhorse slog in out in a battle of the ruck early on.

Agree with all of this. I think Wicks has the potential to work his way into our strongest 17 throughout the year, but he should heve to work for it.

I agree on simpson/Taufua as well. Simmo off the bench could work well, an old head coming on when cross comes off. We need to keep him fit, but the way he is goin these days even if we wrap him in cotton wool he will probably get tangled in it and tear a ligament trying to free himself.