Story From: FoxSports
By Peter Badel
December 19, 2004
MORE than 20 representative stars have had off-season surgery - damning evidence that the lengthy NRL season is pushing the code's elite to breaking point.
With the 2005 season just 11 weeks away, a cluster of big-name players, including Test trio Craig Gower, Willie Mason and Danny Buderus, either face surgery or are in the early stages of rehabilitation for injuries sustained last season.
Other Origin and Test stars to have been operated on include Mark Gasnier, Michael Crocker, Billy Slater, Tony Puletua, Joe Galuvao, Luke Lewis, Chris Walker, Steve Price and Trent Barrett.
In total, 24 representative players have gone under the knife in the off-season - the ultimate ammunition for critics who insist the NRL season is too long.
Penrith coach John Lang warned the breakdown of the code's blue-chip servants would continue until the NRL found a solution to the length of the season - arguably the most vexing issue in the game.
"Look at the number of elite players having surgery. It's a genuine concern," Lang said.
"Maybe it's bad luck, but I don't think it's any coincidence that our top players all seem to be getting injured and needing operations.
"I wouldn't say we are abusing our elite players - but we are certainly getting close to it.
"And the danger is it can get worse. There is every chance the accumulation of several intense seasons can build up on our rep players.
"The season has now become so long, our best players are struggling to be ready for the following season.
"Here [at Penrith], seven of our top-17 squad have had surgery, 'Gowie' [Gower] being the latest. You try and prepare for a new season with an injury toll like that.
"The Bulldogs are in even more trouble. I just don't think it's good for the NRL to have the reigning premiers (Bulldogs) beginning the new year under-strength."
Eight Bulldogs risk commencing the new season, which begins on March 11, underdone following post-season surgery. They are Mason (foot), Matt Utai (ankle), Mark O'Meley (elbow), Brent Sherwin (groin), Adam Perry (knee), Andrew Ryan (knee), Corey Hughes (knee) and Ben Harris (shoulder).
But the worst affected side is StGeorge Illawarra, who had a staggering 14 players in rehabilitation a fortnight ago.
"I think the length of the season is a factor in all these injuries. For rep blokes to get a few weeks off, after such a long year, is ridiculous," Dragons, NSW and Test prop Luke Bailey said.
"For most of the rep blokes, they get a couple of weeks off and then they are back meeting the new blokes. It's a tough ask."
Brisbane Test prop Petero Civoniceva revealed that as many as eight Kangaroos in the victorious Tri-Nations squad carried ailments sustained during the 2004 season.
"There was a lot of wear and tear among the guys. A few were battling on," Civoniceva said.
"The NRL needs to review its scheduling because every year the club season steps up a notch in intensity. Then guys have the rep season to contend with.
"We need to have adequate rest. I loved the Tri-Nations final, but I must admit the tour was long and hard.
"To get home a couple of weeks before Christmas ... that's a very hectic year."
But Canberra coach Matthew Elliott said the injury toll was not so much a result of the season as the preparation needed to succeed in the NRL.
"The game now requires a great amount of durability and if you don't have that, you don't survive the season," Elliott said.
"It's easy to say we should play a shorter season, but the season is not that much longer than it used to be.
"There are more injuries from pushing people harder, particularly at training. There's no doubt about that.
"But you have no choice."
The Sunday Telegraph
By Peter Badel
December 19, 2004
MORE than 20 representative stars have had off-season surgery - damning evidence that the lengthy NRL season is pushing the code's elite to breaking point.
With the 2005 season just 11 weeks away, a cluster of big-name players, including Test trio Craig Gower, Willie Mason and Danny Buderus, either face surgery or are in the early stages of rehabilitation for injuries sustained last season.
Other Origin and Test stars to have been operated on include Mark Gasnier, Michael Crocker, Billy Slater, Tony Puletua, Joe Galuvao, Luke Lewis, Chris Walker, Steve Price and Trent Barrett.
In total, 24 representative players have gone under the knife in the off-season - the ultimate ammunition for critics who insist the NRL season is too long.
Penrith coach John Lang warned the breakdown of the code's blue-chip servants would continue until the NRL found a solution to the length of the season - arguably the most vexing issue in the game.
"Look at the number of elite players having surgery. It's a genuine concern," Lang said.
"Maybe it's bad luck, but I don't think it's any coincidence that our top players all seem to be getting injured and needing operations.
"I wouldn't say we are abusing our elite players - but we are certainly getting close to it.
"And the danger is it can get worse. There is every chance the accumulation of several intense seasons can build up on our rep players.
"The season has now become so long, our best players are struggling to be ready for the following season.
"Here [at Penrith], seven of our top-17 squad have had surgery, 'Gowie' [Gower] being the latest. You try and prepare for a new season with an injury toll like that.
"The Bulldogs are in even more trouble. I just don't think it's good for the NRL to have the reigning premiers (Bulldogs) beginning the new year under-strength."
Eight Bulldogs risk commencing the new season, which begins on March 11, underdone following post-season surgery. They are Mason (foot), Matt Utai (ankle), Mark O'Meley (elbow), Brent Sherwin (groin), Adam Perry (knee), Andrew Ryan (knee), Corey Hughes (knee) and Ben Harris (shoulder).
But the worst affected side is StGeorge Illawarra, who had a staggering 14 players in rehabilitation a fortnight ago.
"I think the length of the season is a factor in all these injuries. For rep blokes to get a few weeks off, after such a long year, is ridiculous," Dragons, NSW and Test prop Luke Bailey said.
"For most of the rep blokes, they get a couple of weeks off and then they are back meeting the new blokes. It's a tough ask."
Brisbane Test prop Petero Civoniceva revealed that as many as eight Kangaroos in the victorious Tri-Nations squad carried ailments sustained during the 2004 season.
"There was a lot of wear and tear among the guys. A few were battling on," Civoniceva said.
"The NRL needs to review its scheduling because every year the club season steps up a notch in intensity. Then guys have the rep season to contend with.
"We need to have adequate rest. I loved the Tri-Nations final, but I must admit the tour was long and hard.
"To get home a couple of weeks before Christmas ... that's a very hectic year."
But Canberra coach Matthew Elliott said the injury toll was not so much a result of the season as the preparation needed to succeed in the NRL.
"The game now requires a great amount of durability and if you don't have that, you don't survive the season," Elliott said.
"It's easy to say we should play a shorter season, but the season is not that much longer than it used to be.
"There are more injuries from pushing people harder, particularly at training. There's no doubt about that.
"But you have no choice."
The Sunday Telegraph
