Buffaloes wait but Wills fears spell on sidelines

THE Darwin Buffaloes are anxiously awaiting medical reports on captain Phillip Wills ( pictured) after he tore his right adductor muscle in Friday night’s loss to Nightcliff.

The 29-year-old clutched at his groin early in the last quarter after clearing the ball out of the middle and had to be assisted from the ground.

Groin problems are not new to Wills, who had an interrupted 2016 season with the Buffaloes and Territory Thunder when he tore his left ad- ductor. “I knew straight away I was in trouble,” Wills told the Sunday Territorian. “It felt a hell of a lot worse than the left one, painwise, and I’ve got a pretty good feeling it’s a long time on the sidelines for me – probably three months at least.

“I felt it pop when I knew I was trying to over compensate on the right leg, because of the trouble I had with the left side only two years ago.

“It had held up until Friday night, but I knew the wrong step or a tackle on that side and I’d be in a fair bit of trouble.”

Wills was to have an ultrasound on the damaged region last night before a full MRI scan tomorrow or Tuesday.

The Buffaloes skipper played a major role this season in getting the club into consecutive finals series, but any post-season success will have to be without their inspirational leader.

“I’m pretty shattered,” Wills said. “We’re starting to run into a bit of form at the right time of year and it would have been good to be out there with the boys in the elimination final against Southern Dis- tricts. I’m not giving up all hope, but you know your own body and I reckon this one is pretty serious – hopefully the scans will prove me wrong.

“One thing is for certain, Cam Stokes will lead the side in my absence and I’ve got every faith in him as a captain.”

Darwin coach Mark Motlop remains optimistic despite all signs pointing to Wills having a long stint out.

“Fingers crossed it won’t be as bad as we think,” Motlop said. “If not, it creates an opportunity for someone else to step up in a big finals match.”