SIMS TAKES A CAUTIOUS APPROACH
RUGBY LEAGUE: NSW State of Origin second-rower Tariq Sims will miss the start of St George Illawarra’s pre-season, opting to take a long-term approach with his knee injury.
Sims, who won the Dragons’’ player-of-the-year medal on Wednesday night, tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in St George’s NRL semi-final loss to South Sydney last month.
Usually it is only a two-week injury when the meniscus is removed in surgery, but Sims has decided on a slower approach that means he is unlikely to return to training until the new year.
The idea is that this will help the 28-year-old’s fitness in the longer term.
“The surgeon went in and stapled down the meniscus (rather than removing it),” Dragons high performance boss Nathan Pickworth said on the club’s website.
“The difference with that is it will be a bit of a slower rehab in the earlier stages, so we’re looking at a three-four month mark of him getting back to training and playing. It’s a bit slower than your usual meniscectomy.
“The benefits we have done is in the back end of Tariq’s career, he won’t be at risk of getting early onset arthritis. He’ll be able to run normally and do all the things he needs to do like that.”
The Dragons have otherwise received good news on the injury front after enduring a tough end to the season, in contrast to going a record 12 rounds without changing their starting side.
Lock Jack de Belin won’t require surgery on his injured ankle and will likely be fit to go when pre-season training starts on November 19, as should prop Paul Vaughan (ankle and foot).
Captain Gareth Widdop will have a longer break after surgery on his dislocated shoulder, but the Saints are confident he’ll be fit for the start of next season.