NECK SCARE HITS TITAN
McQueen to go under knife as he fights to save season
CHRIS McQueen is fighting to salvage his Titans career and World Cup campaign with the veteran back-rower facing delicate surgery on a worrying neck injury.
The England international is battling nerve damage in his neck as he makes a desperate attempt to return as the Titans walk the NRL finals tightrope.
McQueen, who will link with Wests Tigers next season, has missed the past three matches because of multiple neck injuries and is resigned to having surgery to make a full recovery from the persistent problem.
The 29-year-old has undergone treatment to help alleviate the injury but is no certainty to play out the remainder of the season, putting a dent in the Gold Coast’s back-to-back finals dreams.
McQueen is hoping to play through pain and add to his tally of 38 Titans games, but neck injuries are very fickle and potentially dangerous.
The hardworking backrower missed the recent win against St George-Illawarra after copping a knock at training the day before the game.me.
McQueen is awaiting ing a specialist’s opinion before re deciding the best course of action but if he does go underer the knife he is facing a four-month month recovery – ruling him out ut of the season-ending World Cup.
McQueen made his is debut for Wayne Bennnett’s England in the midseason Samoa Test.
Before last Saturday’s win against premiers Cronulla, Titans coach Neil Henry conceded his worry. “It’s been ongoing for him. We’re hoping it settles and it’s nothing that will keep him out for another month,” he said. “At the moment it’s not good enough for him to do contact. It’s a completely different injury. It’s the other side of his neck. He had a problem before and he’s stirred it up in the game and hurt it at training.” McQueen i is today set to be left out of the 21-man squad for Saturday’s Penrith trip.