Broncos star throws himself back into the mix
MATT Gillett says he must confront his fears that he will suffer injury in his comeback from neck and shoulder issues in the Broncos’ last pre-season trial on Saturday.
The man who was the best right-edge forward in rugby league before he was found to have a fractured neck last April has been selected to make his return in the middle.
Gillett will wear No.13 against Gold Coast on Satur-
day at Cbus Super Stadium in a Broncos pack to miss the injured Tevita Pangai and the suspended Payne Haas.
The usually low-fuss Gillett is 328 days between matches and yesterday did not downplay his concerns over impacts on his neck and, to a lesser extent, the shoulder which had a reconstruction in August.
“There will be thoughts before the game about what could happen, maybe an injury will happen again,’’ Gillett said.
“I’ve definitely had those
thoughts, no doubt about that. Once you are on the footy field, you are thinking about doing your role, not thinking about injuries.
“That’s what I’ve found. “I am pretty sweet with it. We do game scenarios every day at training so we are doing the contact.
“I won’t be going out there trying to whack blokes in defence. I will get my timing back and once I get that I am confident I will be able to go harder.
“It might take me a little
while to find my feet again but the body is great and I’m in good nick at the moment.’’
Gillett, 30, trained in the engine room yesterday and may swap spots with edge selection David Fifita against the Titans.
“I will play some middle, just trialling it out this week,’’ he said.
“Tevita is out and if he is fit and healthy and plays lock I’d push back out to the edge. It may be one or two games, depending on a few injuries.
“I’ll be doing a lot of video
this week to make sure I get the role right. It’s a new role for me but I’m learning it pretty quick. Change is always good.
I’ll be trying to get as many minutes as I can. Game fitness is something I need to work on.’’
Despite his lack of training last year, the Queensland back-rower reached his optimum playing weight of 101kg in December by adding 10kg and is pleased to have maintained through so many steamy weeks of training.