|
 St
George Illawarra Dragons centre Mark Gasnier
will undergo surgery for a wrist injury according
to today's Sydney Morning Herald. An Australian
and New South Wales representative, Gasnier
damaged ligaments in a training mishap and
is likely to miss the start of the 2005 season.
He reportedly joins new recruits Michael Ennis
and Albert Torrens on the sideline with both
players recovering from recent surgery.
A
former Manly utility back, Torrens should
return to training after the Christmas break
but hooker Ennis is in doubt for the start
of the 2005 season. With Mark Riddell signing
with Parramatta and Lincoln Withers joining
Canberra, the Dragons will call on Aaron Gorrell
who is set to make a return to first grade
for the time since 2002.
"It's
not the best news but it is better to have
these things happen now than in the middle
of the season," Dragons chief executive
Peter Doust said.
"Michael
Ennis came to us from Newcastle with a shoulder
problem we had been trying to manage conservatively,
but at the end of the day it was decided that
it would be in his best interests if he had
a partial reconstruction now and started next
season fully fit," said Doust. "Albert
Torrens has had an arthroscopy on his knee
but he will be OK for the beginning of the
season."
Meanwhile
half back Mathew Head is still recovering
from an illness which continues to disrupt
his off-season schedule. Australian representatives,
Jason Ryles, Shaun Timmins and Matt Cooper
will have medical assessments when the Kangaroos
return next Wednesday. Both Ryles and Timmins
were hampered by injury whilst on tour.
Gasnier's
injury caps off a roller coaster year for
the star centre.
After
stating that he wasn’t sure if he even
wanted to play rugby league, Gasnier bounced
back, hitting top form in the opening rounds.
He gained selection for the NSW Blues in May
but just days before the first State of Origin
clash, he was dumped from the squad for his
part in leaving offensive mobile phone messages.
Following his sacking from the Blues, an apologetic
Gasnier was fined $50,000 by the Dragons.
Gasnier
continued to find form on the football field
and in July, successfully fought his back
into the Blues squad in time for Origin III,
scoring two tries on what was his NSW debut.
But injury struck when it was revealed after
the match he had a cracked collarbone.
In
the same month, Gasnier agreed to terms with
the Dragons after being a refused a release.
This followed reports dating back to early
2004 which stated the 23-year-old was being
chased by English Super League club Wigan.
The day after agreeing to terms with the Dragons,
Gasnier compounded his collarbone injury when
he fell awkwardly while getting out of a car,
effectively sidelining him for the rest of
the season. A week later, Gasnier and captain
Trent Barrett were involved in a car accident
in Wollongong but emerged unhurt.
|
