Walker set for early comeback, O'Meley charged
03Apr07
INJURED Titans winger Chris Walker is poised to make a remarkable comeback from a broken thumb this weekend against the Panthers in Sydney.
The prolific points-scoring flyer will meet with his specialist tomorrow about his right thumb, which required surgery.
He suffered the break in the dying minutes of the Titans' round one 20-18 loss to St George.
The injury was first thought to keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks, but Walker said yesterday he could be back as early as this Sunday, less than three weeks after his operation.
"The way it is feeling. I feel like I could play this weekend," said Walker.
"There is a chance.
"I just have to talk to the doctors and the coaches about it, so I will see how I go."
Coach John Cartwright will name his side for the Penrith encounter today.
Even if Walker does prove fit, it remains to be seen if he can displace fellow wingers Matt Petersen and Lelea Paea from the starting side.
Former Test prop Brad Meyers could earn a recall after impressing for Ipswich in the Queensland Cup at the weekend in his return from an ankle injury.
Titans five-eighth Matt Hilder is battling an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder but is confident he will be fit to take on the Panthers. * BULLDOGS prop Mark O'Meley could miss at least one week after being charged with kneeing Titans captain Scott Prince in the head during Sunday's 22-6 win over Gold Coast.
The incident occurred in the 53rd minute, when Prince was tackled just short of the try line and O'Meley appeared to drop his knee into the Titans co-captain.
"Somehow my head found itself under O'Meley's knee. It was a little bit surprising he jumped on it a few times," said Prince sarcastically.
"There was no need for it but it is part of footy. It is something we shouldn't have in our game."
The Test front rower was charged with grade one dropping the knees after the match review committee reviewed the incident
"There was no malice in it," said O'Meley on learning he'd been charged. "I didn't even know I was on his head."
O'Meley will meet with Bulldogs officials this morning to decide whether to fight the charge.
If he does and loses it will mean a two-game ban with the likely option being he will take an early guilty plea and miss just one match.
"I think I'll have to take the early plea," said O'Meley. "Not many people win at the judiciary."
