Williams' setback 'baffling'
By Adrian Proszenko and Daniel Pace
February 13, 2006
THE Bulldogs admit they're baffled by the cause of new injuries which will sideline Sonny Bill Williams for the start of the NRL season.
The injury-dogged, 20-year-old was initially "pretty shattered" after learning he'd developed stress fractures in both feet which will prevent him from playing for about six weeks.
However, he has met with club doctor Hugh Hazard and team officials who have encouraged him to stay positive as he begins yet another rehabilitation stint.
Hailed as an emerging superstar in his 2004 debut year, the backrower has already missed 32 NRL matches in his two seasons through a combination of ankle and knee injuries, while a shoulder injury also cut short his Test appearances in 2004.
Hazard and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes said today the latest injuries - diagnosed late Friday and made public today - were surprising given the limited amount of impact training Williams had been doing.
The club has been carefully managing Williams' workload as he prepares to return from the serious knee injury suffered in round 13 last season while making his comeback from an ankle injury.
"We're not sure why (it happened), it's unusual because he hasn't done a lot of running," Folkes said today.
"It couldn't be an impact loading thing, I wouldn't think.
"We are already (managing him) so we're a bit puzzled as to why it happened. The medical staff and the logistics staff will have a look at that in the next week or so to see exactly what he needs to do and what he can't do."
Advertisement:
Williams, who didn't want to comment on the injury, had been on track to play in the opening round clash with Penrith at Telstra Stadium, but will now target a round three return against Newcastle.
He played just five games last year, his season ended when he tore cartilage in his right knee.
"His knee is fine, there's no problem with his knee at the moment," Folkes said.
"The stress fractures are just something that need a bit of rest.
"We've got plenty of blokes that don't take part in too much of the training, the ballwork and the skill stuff, so we've managed it with him over long periods of time.
"There's no doubt we can do it (again) with Sonny if it's necessary.
"It's not a major thing, it's not the end of the world."
Bulldogs officials set up a discussion with Williams after the results emerged late Friday.
"We had a meeting and spoke about the need for him to stay focused and start all over again," Hazard said.
"We'll be unloading him of sprint training and ball work. Basically he'll be completely off his feet and won't be running.
"We've got to remember that he's only 20. If we look after him properly there's no reason why he won't get back to his best.
"It's just one of those things," Hazard added.
"I feel for him. He was pretty shattered last Friday when we got the results back but he's down at training again and doing everything that he's allowed to do."
Folkes said the rampaging forward wouldn't be asked to change his hard-running style.
"You just go out and play and if you get injured that's part of the game," he said.
"A lot of it is just about luck ... you can't eliminate injuries from the game."
Reuters
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18132466-23214,00.html
