The Australian
April 4, 2006
By Margie McDonald
His body is right but his head needs another week or two before Sonny Bill Williams can step back into football game for the first time in eight months. The 20-year-old ran sprints up and down the Belmore ground sidelines yesterday and performed other speed work to perfection, but he spoke to coach Steve Folkes and asked for a little extra time."He feels like he needs another week or two under his belt training-wise," Folkes said."He's done a little bit of agility today and that's the first he's done.
He's done no ballwork. Folkes said he was unlikely to name Williams today in the side to face the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday."I don't think I'll pick him. I'm pretty sure he won't play."
Williams has recovered from the stress fractures in both feet, that were diagnosed in mid-February, just three weeks out from the start of the season. He spent the off-season recovering from a right knee injury he got after just three minutes on the field against Souths in their round 21 match last July. That game was his comeback match after two months out with an ankle injury, which in turn came after some time off with the mumps. Indeed, Williams managed only five games last season.
Williams worked under head trainer Larry Britton with four other players, including Mark O'Meley who has some achilles tightness, to the side of the main group yesterday. O'Meley is expected to line up against Canberra after his freshening up stint in Premier League last Friday. Folkes' troubles are in the outside backs with winger Matt Utai out with a fractured rib and centre Cameron Phelps (hamstring) still uncertain.
BULLDOGS INJURY LIST:
Cameron Phelps - Hamstring
Sonny Bill Williams - Feet
Dallas McIlwain - Ankle
Namila Davui - Ankle
Trent Cutler - Hand
Matt Utai - Ribs
Daniel Conn - Ankle
