WAMF
Bencher
MANLY co-captain Jason King is confident he'll be fit to lead the Sea Eagles in the World Club Challenge, but Brett Stewart is no certainty to face Leeds on February 17.
The star fullback was ruled out of the Four Nations tour with a knee problem and Manly will need him ready to go for their NRL title defence in 2012.
Coach Geoff Toovey said he's pleased with how Stewart is progressing through the pre-season and certainly hasn't ruled him out of the WCC.
But given his knee is only just starting to stabilise after a horror run of injuries, it seems doubtful Stewart will face the Rhinos on a hard English surface unless coaching staff are confident the 26-year-old is 100 per cent fit.
"Brett's much further ahead than he was this time last year obviously. He's fighting fit and he's in a pretty good place at the moment so we're expecting a pretty big year from him,'' said Toovey.
The newly-appointed coach, who this week welcomed former team-mate Cliff Lyons onto his staff at Manly, said winger David Williams was his main concern after the serious neck injury he suffered last season.
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"I don't know if he'll be right yet, but he should be right for the first game (of the season proper) I believe,'' Toovey said. King was the hard-luck story from the Sea Eagles premiership triumph after a pectoral injury in the lead-up to the finals cost him the chance to lift the trophy with Jamie Lyon. The NSW front-rower said he's set the WCC as his comeback date. "Absolutely I'm on track personally to play in that game,'' he said. "I don't have to see the surgeon again so just see how it responds over the next month or so and start to amp it up a little bit. "I'm really keen to get over there that's for sure.'' Toovey said he would be silly to significantly change the winning formula implemented by former coach Des Hasler and isn't motivated by putting his own stamp on the club. The 42-year-old said Lyons, his former halves partner at Manly, will ease into his role as NSW Cup coach and there are no immediate plans to have him running water and messages for the NRL team. "Obviously Cliffy has just accepted the role we offered him in the last couple of days so he'll have enough on his hands at this stage ... but down the track maybe something will eventuate,'' said Toovey. "When Cliff was playing at the club he had that winning culture about him.'' Young centre-winger Dean Whare is pushing hard for one of the positions in the outside backs vacated by Michael Robertson and Will Hopoate.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-fullback-brett-stewart-no-certainty-to-face-leeds-in-world-club-challenge/story-e6frexnr-1226228754951
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The star fullback was ruled out of the Four Nations tour with a knee problem and Manly will need him ready to go for their NRL title defence in 2012.
Coach Geoff Toovey said he's pleased with how Stewart is progressing through the pre-season and certainly hasn't ruled him out of the WCC.
But given his knee is only just starting to stabilise after a horror run of injuries, it seems doubtful Stewart will face the Rhinos on a hard English surface unless coaching staff are confident the 26-year-old is 100 per cent fit.
"Brett's much further ahead than he was this time last year obviously. He's fighting fit and he's in a pretty good place at the moment so we're expecting a pretty big year from him,'' said Toovey.
The newly-appointed coach, who this week welcomed former team-mate Cliff Lyons onto his staff at Manly, said winger David Williams was his main concern after the serious neck injury he suffered last season.
Â
"I don't know if he'll be right yet, but he should be right for the first game (of the season proper) I believe,'' Toovey said. King was the hard-luck story from the Sea Eagles premiership triumph after a pectoral injury in the lead-up to the finals cost him the chance to lift the trophy with Jamie Lyon. The NSW front-rower said he's set the WCC as his comeback date. "Absolutely I'm on track personally to play in that game,'' he said. "I don't have to see the surgeon again so just see how it responds over the next month or so and start to amp it up a little bit. "I'm really keen to get over there that's for sure.'' Toovey said he would be silly to significantly change the winning formula implemented by former coach Des Hasler and isn't motivated by putting his own stamp on the club. The 42-year-old said Lyons, his former halves partner at Manly, will ease into his role as NSW Cup coach and there are no immediate plans to have him running water and messages for the NRL team. "Obviously Cliffy has just accepted the role we offered him in the last couple of days so he'll have enough on his hands at this stage ... but down the track maybe something will eventuate,'' said Toovey. "When Cliff was playing at the club he had that winning culture about him.'' Young centre-winger Dean Whare is pushing hard for one of the positions in the outside backs vacated by Michael Robertson and Will Hopoate.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-fullback-brett-stewart-no-certainty-to-face-leeds-in-world-club-challenge/story-e6frexnr-1226228754951
Read the full article
