gong_eagle
First Grade
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By Chris Wilson
January 13, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23043735-5006066,00.html
DOCTORS advised him to never run again, but Manly's George Rose this week took his first steps towards an amazing comeback.
The cult hero from Brookvale was the NRL tragedy of 2007, his right leg snapping beneath him in a mid-season match against the Melbourne Storm.
The injury cost Rose a grand final appearance and it could still yet end his career.
But three medical opinions and seven months later, Rose this week ran again for the first time.
There was trepidation in his stride and Rose's right fibula will remain pinned together by a metal plate and six screws for the rest of his life.
But the 24-year-old, who has an apartment backing on to Brookvale Oval, has vowed to return.
"I won't let that be my last game,'' a defiant Rose told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I'd like to be there for round one, but any time this year would be good.''
Rose refused to accept initial advice from doctors that his career was over.
Finally given the clearance to run again, Rose must remain patient.
"Ideally they'd recommend I stay off (the leg) as much as I can and not be running. But since that's my career, I've got to work around it.''
Rose gambled on his career in 2006 by turning down a two year-contract with the Sea Eagles in favour of a one-year deal.
This year Manly are betting on Rose. The 24-year-old came off contract at the end of 2007, but Manly has signed him to a second-tier contract worth less than $50,000.
Should Rose return to his strong form of early 2007, Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said the club had an option to re-sign him for 2009.
"Very few clubs would take a risk on a player with such a serious injury, but the medical staff and coaching staff here thought he was worth the punt,'' Mayer said.
"When you have medical practitioners declaring you may not run again, you've got to back yourself and he's done that.
"We're not going to rush him back because if you do it wrong, he may not run again. It's about taking it one step at a time.''
In the early stages of his recovery Rose said he just lay in bed, leg throbbing, counting down the minutes until his next painkiller.
When he could walk again, he returned to work at the Department of Education and is now a part-time teacher's aid.
"Life after footy is something I've been thinking about a lot since the injury. It can end in an instant,'' Rose said.
"I could sense last year was going to be a big year for the team, but then it all came crashing down for me.''
He has played only 34 NRL matches, including 28 for Manly. But Rose became a crowd favourite at Brookvale last year, for his hefty build as much as his powerful bursts.
Rose says, because of the injury, he now needs to cut his weight from 117kg to about 110kg.
January 13, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23043735-5006066,00.html
DOCTORS advised him to never run again, but Manly's George Rose this week took his first steps towards an amazing comeback.
The cult hero from Brookvale was the NRL tragedy of 2007, his right leg snapping beneath him in a mid-season match against the Melbourne Storm.
The injury cost Rose a grand final appearance and it could still yet end his career.
But three medical opinions and seven months later, Rose this week ran again for the first time.
There was trepidation in his stride and Rose's right fibula will remain pinned together by a metal plate and six screws for the rest of his life.
But the 24-year-old, who has an apartment backing on to Brookvale Oval, has vowed to return.
"I won't let that be my last game,'' a defiant Rose told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I'd like to be there for round one, but any time this year would be good.''
Rose refused to accept initial advice from doctors that his career was over.
Finally given the clearance to run again, Rose must remain patient.
"Ideally they'd recommend I stay off (the leg) as much as I can and not be running. But since that's my career, I've got to work around it.''
Rose gambled on his career in 2006 by turning down a two year-contract with the Sea Eagles in favour of a one-year deal.
This year Manly are betting on Rose. The 24-year-old came off contract at the end of 2007, but Manly has signed him to a second-tier contract worth less than $50,000.
Should Rose return to his strong form of early 2007, Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said the club had an option to re-sign him for 2009.
"Very few clubs would take a risk on a player with such a serious injury, but the medical staff and coaching staff here thought he was worth the punt,'' Mayer said.
"When you have medical practitioners declaring you may not run again, you've got to back yourself and he's done that.
"We're not going to rush him back because if you do it wrong, he may not run again. It's about taking it one step at a time.''
In the early stages of his recovery Rose said he just lay in bed, leg throbbing, counting down the minutes until his next painkiller.
When he could walk again, he returned to work at the Department of Education and is now a part-time teacher's aid.
"Life after footy is something I've been thinking about a lot since the injury. It can end in an instant,'' Rose said.
"I could sense last year was going to be a big year for the team, but then it all came crashing down for me.''
He has played only 34 NRL matches, including 28 for Manly. But Rose became a crowd favourite at Brookvale last year, for his hefty build as much as his powerful bursts.
Rose says, because of the injury, he now needs to cut his weight from 117kg to about 110kg.
