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Weyman's long-awaited return giant leap forward
Peter Fitzgerald
Thursday, 30 March 2006
Michael Weyman doesn't want to rush things this time.
The injury prone youngster, who has been restricted to just 12 first-grade matches in the past three years, wants to do thing right.
Weyman has been training with Canberra's senior squad for the majority of this year and after a long wait feels he is finally ready.
The 21-year-old will make his long-awaited return to football this weekend off the bench in the Raiders Premier League side, which plays the St Mary's-Penrith Cougars on Saturday afternoon.
The match will be the 112kg prop's first since fracturing his ankle against the Sydney Roosters in round four of the NRL last year and 12th since bursting onto the first-grade scene in 2003.
Weyman's return was supposed to come last season.
His ankle injury was only meant to sideline him for a couple of months but he suffered two repeats of the fracture after the screws inserted in his foot came loose.
So, after a 12-month rest, Weyman is ready to ease himself back into the sport he has played for as long as he can remember.
"A year is a long time to be out so I won't be charging like a bull too early on," said Weyman, who will today pen a new two-year deal with the Raiders.
"I'm pretty keen to get out there but I don't want to do anything stupid. I'll probably play 20 minutes in the first half and have a chat to the coaches at half-time and see how I'm going before deciding what happens in the second half."
Weyman could prove to be Canberra's much-needed saviour this season.
The side has registered two of its three worst losses in history in the past fortnight and is in desperate need for players to step up.
While he will not be in the senior side to play Penrith on Saturday night, an NRL call-up could come as soon as next week. "I just want to get some games under my belt but if those games are in first grade and [coach] Matty [Elliott] wants me there, then I'll be there," he said. "While match fitness is obviously the key, I'm probably feeling as fit as I ever have.
"Saturday's hit-out will be perfect to blow out any cobwebs and I'm just hoping I'm able to be selected next week, anywhere, and not in a doctor's surgery somewhere waiting for results."
Former league greats have labelled Weyman a future Australian representative but injury has stifled his potential . "It's taken a little while to get everything sorted but I'm glad it's all done now," Weyman said.
He could be a real shining light this season, or he could just add to the trauma. I think a 2 year contract is a good call from management. It's not an over-commitment and I think there is still cause for optimism on what he can bring to the club.
Peter Fitzgerald
Thursday, 30 March 2006
Michael Weyman doesn't want to rush things this time.
The injury prone youngster, who has been restricted to just 12 first-grade matches in the past three years, wants to do thing right.
Weyman has been training with Canberra's senior squad for the majority of this year and after a long wait feels he is finally ready.
The 21-year-old will make his long-awaited return to football this weekend off the bench in the Raiders Premier League side, which plays the St Mary's-Penrith Cougars on Saturday afternoon.
The match will be the 112kg prop's first since fracturing his ankle against the Sydney Roosters in round four of the NRL last year and 12th since bursting onto the first-grade scene in 2003.
Weyman's return was supposed to come last season.
His ankle injury was only meant to sideline him for a couple of months but he suffered two repeats of the fracture after the screws inserted in his foot came loose.
So, after a 12-month rest, Weyman is ready to ease himself back into the sport he has played for as long as he can remember.
"A year is a long time to be out so I won't be charging like a bull too early on," said Weyman, who will today pen a new two-year deal with the Raiders.
"I'm pretty keen to get out there but I don't want to do anything stupid. I'll probably play 20 minutes in the first half and have a chat to the coaches at half-time and see how I'm going before deciding what happens in the second half."
Weyman could prove to be Canberra's much-needed saviour this season.
The side has registered two of its three worst losses in history in the past fortnight and is in desperate need for players to step up.
While he will not be in the senior side to play Penrith on Saturday night, an NRL call-up could come as soon as next week. "I just want to get some games under my belt but if those games are in first grade and [coach] Matty [Elliott] wants me there, then I'll be there," he said. "While match fitness is obviously the key, I'm probably feeling as fit as I ever have.
"Saturday's hit-out will be perfect to blow out any cobwebs and I'm just hoping I'm able to be selected next week, anywhere, and not in a doctor's surgery somewhere waiting for results."
Former league greats have labelled Weyman a future Australian representative but injury has stifled his potential . "It's taken a little while to get everything sorted but I'm glad it's all done now," Weyman said.
He could be a real shining light this season, or he could just add to the trauma. I think a 2 year contract is a good call from management. It's not an over-commitment and I think there is still cause for optimism on what he can bring to the club.
