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Thommo's shock return
By AGRON LATIFI
July 29, 2003
LANCE THOMPSON
FORMER Dragons skipper Lance Thompson will make a surprise return from injury for St George Illawarra's WIN Stadium stoush with Penrith on Sunday.
Thompson, originally expected to miss the entire regular season with a foot injury, will have a fitness test today but is expected to play against the high-flying Panthers.
His return provides some welcome relief for coach Nathan Brown, who will be without international centre Mark Gasnier for at least two weeks.
Gasnier, only recently returning from a knee injury, yesterday had an MRI on the quadriceps muscle he injured during the Dragons' loss to the Eels on Saturday night.
Results of the MRI will be revealed today.
Yesterday, Dragons hooker Mark Riddell was charged with a grade one striking offence from Saturday's loss to Parramatta. He is likely to take the early guilty plea and avoid the possibility of being suspended for the Panthers clash.
Craig Stapleton was also placed on report for striking against the Eels but was not charged by the judiciary.
In further good news, fellow forward Henry Perenara has been passed fit to play against Penrith after injuring his shoulder last weekend.
The Dragons are precariously placed in eighth position with trips to Cronulla and Brisbane to come, as well as home matches against Penrith, the New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne and a potentially decisive showdown with Newcastle at WIN Stadium in round 25.
St George Illawarra are already without injured experienced trio Trent Barrett (ankle), Amos Roberts (shoulder) and Jason Ryles, who will have a shoulder reconstruction today, for the rest of the season.
"It feels great knowing I can play again," Thompson said.
"I was shattered when I was first told I'd be out for the season.
"It's been long and hard watching them play, but they've been going well up to last weekend.
"I stayed off my foot as much as I could and I've done all the rehab I've been asked to - if I hadn't, I would've been out for the year."
A "refreshed" Thompson added that he was now looking forward to helping the inexperienced Dragons secure a finals berth.
"We definitely need to string a few wins together if we're going to figure in the finals," he said.
"The Roosters didn't do us any favours by beating Penrith last weekend and we're going to have to come out and play hard to win.
"We're probably going to miss Mark Gasnier, which is a big blow.
"We always seem to lose our big players, Rylesey and Trent and now Gas for a couple of weeks, so it is going to be hard."
By AGRON LATIFI
July 29, 2003
LANCE THOMPSON
FORMER Dragons skipper Lance Thompson will make a surprise return from injury for St George Illawarra's WIN Stadium stoush with Penrith on Sunday.
Thompson, originally expected to miss the entire regular season with a foot injury, will have a fitness test today but is expected to play against the high-flying Panthers.
His return provides some welcome relief for coach Nathan Brown, who will be without international centre Mark Gasnier for at least two weeks.
Gasnier, only recently returning from a knee injury, yesterday had an MRI on the quadriceps muscle he injured during the Dragons' loss to the Eels on Saturday night.
Results of the MRI will be revealed today.
Yesterday, Dragons hooker Mark Riddell was charged with a grade one striking offence from Saturday's loss to Parramatta. He is likely to take the early guilty plea and avoid the possibility of being suspended for the Panthers clash.
Craig Stapleton was also placed on report for striking against the Eels but was not charged by the judiciary.
In further good news, fellow forward Henry Perenara has been passed fit to play against Penrith after injuring his shoulder last weekend.
The Dragons are precariously placed in eighth position with trips to Cronulla and Brisbane to come, as well as home matches against Penrith, the New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne and a potentially decisive showdown with Newcastle at WIN Stadium in round 25.
St George Illawarra are already without injured experienced trio Trent Barrett (ankle), Amos Roberts (shoulder) and Jason Ryles, who will have a shoulder reconstruction today, for the rest of the season.
"It feels great knowing I can play again," Thompson said.
"I was shattered when I was first told I'd be out for the season.
"It's been long and hard watching them play, but they've been going well up to last weekend.
"I stayed off my foot as much as I could and I've done all the rehab I've been asked to - if I hadn't, I would've been out for the year."
A "refreshed" Thompson added that he was now looking forward to helping the inexperienced Dragons secure a finals berth.
"We definitely need to string a few wins together if we're going to figure in the finals," he said.
"The Roosters didn't do us any favours by beating Penrith last weekend and we're going to have to come out and play hard to win.
"We're probably going to miss Mark Gasnier, which is a big blow.
"We always seem to lose our big players, Rylesey and Trent and now Gas for a couple of weeks, so it is going to be hard."
