Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Fit Jack shapes up for exciting season
Joe Barton
27 February 2008
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/02/27/8932_sports.html
THERE has been a good feeling around the Afamasaga household this pre-season.
For the first time in four years Jack Afamasaga has survived an off-season without one of his legs going under the knife.
In 2004 the ball-playing back-rower had surgery on his right ankle, then the next year he suffered from compartment syndrome in both of his calves.
In 2006 a knee injury suffered mid-year required a complete reconstruction - surgery which ruined his entire off-season.
"Everything with my legs is fine for the first time," he told The Manly Daily with relief ahead of the Sea Eagles trial against the Warriors in Caloundra on Friday night.
"It is massively pleasing.
"Last year, coming over from Parramatta, I couldn't run at all. I looked like a gimp when I tried to run.
"I had no flexibility and no strength in my knee.
"This pre and off-season is the only one where I've done nothing to my legs, nothing that's going to keep me out of the game. I've got plenty of miles in my legs. It's shaping up to be an exciting year."
Afamasaga had one minor hiccup during the break, when he broke his hand while sparring during training.
"I broke my hand boxing with a mate," he said.
"So I had to have surgery on it, but I've recovered pretty good from that. There's a good feeling around the house.
"My partner is always telling me that this year is going to be a massive year, it's up to me now."
Afamasaga missed Manly's first trial against Melbourne with a stomach virus, but last night the Wellington junior was named in a 24-man squad to take on the Warriors.
The 23-year-old is desperate to cement a spot in Manly's top 17 with the Sea Eagles possessing some of the strongest forwards in the NRL.
"I do enjoy the competition," he said. "Some people take offence or don't like it, but I take it as something to challenge yourself on."
Sea Eagles boss Grant Mayer has emphatically ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Bulldogs CEO position.
Mayer, the Bulldogs operations manager from 1999 to 2005, is contracted at Manly until October next year.
"I'm not going anywhere," Mayer said.
Joe Barton
27 February 2008
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/02/27/8932_sports.html
THERE has been a good feeling around the Afamasaga household this pre-season.
For the first time in four years Jack Afamasaga has survived an off-season without one of his legs going under the knife.
In 2004 the ball-playing back-rower had surgery on his right ankle, then the next year he suffered from compartment syndrome in both of his calves.
In 2006 a knee injury suffered mid-year required a complete reconstruction - surgery which ruined his entire off-season.
"Everything with my legs is fine for the first time," he told The Manly Daily with relief ahead of the Sea Eagles trial against the Warriors in Caloundra on Friday night.
"It is massively pleasing.
"Last year, coming over from Parramatta, I couldn't run at all. I looked like a gimp when I tried to run.
"I had no flexibility and no strength in my knee.
"This pre and off-season is the only one where I've done nothing to my legs, nothing that's going to keep me out of the game. I've got plenty of miles in my legs. It's shaping up to be an exciting year."
Afamasaga had one minor hiccup during the break, when he broke his hand while sparring during training.
"I broke my hand boxing with a mate," he said.
"So I had to have surgery on it, but I've recovered pretty good from that. There's a good feeling around the house.
"My partner is always telling me that this year is going to be a massive year, it's up to me now."
Afamasaga missed Manly's first trial against Melbourne with a stomach virus, but last night the Wellington junior was named in a 24-man squad to take on the Warriors.
The 23-year-old is desperate to cement a spot in Manly's top 17 with the Sea Eagles possessing some of the strongest forwards in the NRL.
"I do enjoy the competition," he said. "Some people take offence or don't like it, but I take it as something to challenge yourself on."
Sea Eagles boss Grant Mayer has emphatically ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Bulldogs CEO position.
Mayer, the Bulldogs operations manager from 1999 to 2005, is contracted at Manly until October next year.
"I'm not going anywhere," Mayer said.
