Tahu out for season
By Margie McDonald
July 23, 2004
NEWCASTLE have lost a second international player within a week following a season-ending injury to winger Timana Tahu.
News that Tahu needs surgery on his injured ankle came just three days after 2003 Kangaroo tourist Steve Simpson broke his jaw against the Broncos last Sunday and will be out for at least eight weeks - effectively ending his 2004 campaign.
Simpson made a comeback against Brisbane after 12 weeks out with a foot injury.
With seven matches left, starting with the North Queensland Cowboys in Newcastle on Sunday, the Knights are sitting in 10th spot, one win outside the eight.
"It's a real battle for a place between three or four teams all trying, like us, to gain momentum and string a couple of wins together," Newcastle coach Michael Hagan said.
"In the case of Timana and Steve Simpson it's now like having one hand behind our backs. But it's just a matter of trying to be as healthy as we can be from now until the end."
Newcastle is not the only club feeling the traditional injury pinch late in the season.
St George Illawarra have Mark Gasnier with an arm in a sling and Lance Thompson on crutches.
Gasnier re-injured his collar-bone on Tuesday when he tripped as he tried to get out of team-mate Jason Ryles' car. He originally cracked it in Origin III. Gasnier is expected to be on the sidelines for a further five weeks.
Penrith will decide today whether to appeal against Ben Ross's nine-match ban.
The Australian
