Broken arm ends Anderson’s season
THE Townsville Blackhawks’ premiership aspirations have taken a massive blow after star fullback Carlin Anderson broke an arm in yesterday’s 42- 16 loss to the Sunshine Coast.
Anderson suffered the injury towards the end of the first half and was later taken to hospital with his arm in a brace, with Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf confirming Anderson, the Q Cup’s leading pointscorer, had suffered a broken forearm.
Anderson’s season is over, with the best time frame on a return being three months and the timing could not be worse.
The Blackhawks play their elimination final on Sunday in Brisbane against the Easts Tigers, who thumped Burleigh 32- 16 in their final regular season hitout.
Woolf will now spend this week deciding on his backline reshuffle, with the all- important question being who replaces Anderson at No. 1.
Townsville junior and former Broncos under- 20s star Paul Brynes could have the inside running after filling in for Anderson yesterday, although Woolf is keeping his options open.
“Someone will have to step up,” Woolf said. “Carlin has obviously been a big part of us this season, and when you’re the highest point scorer in the competition, it doesn’t happen by fluke.
“It’s really unfortunate – it’s obviously a big blow – but we have a game of footy ahead of us and we have to move on. Unfortunately that’s what happens in footy.”
Blackhawks halfback Michael Parker- Walshe also suffered an injury scare in the second minute after going down clutching his left shoulder, although Woolf said all players apart from Anderson would be available to play the Tigers.
Parker- Walshe was sidelined earlier this year for a handful of weeks after injuring the same shoulder.
“We have a few bumps and bruises, but they won’t keep anyone out of finals footy,” Woolf said.
The Blackhawks were blown out of the water yesterday by a Falcons’ team that ran circles around the lethargic Blackhawks’ defence.
Townsville’s finals spot was locked in following Mackay’s win over the previously seventh- placed Ipswich Jets last weekend, but the Cutters couldn’t hand the Blackhawks another favour after falling to SouthsLogan 32- 18 on Saturday night.
That result ensured Townsville would enter finals in sixth place no matter yesterday’s result, and it showed just three minutes after kickoff when Falcons centre Justin Olam pounced on a Riley Jacks grubber that Anderson failed to contain.
Parker- Walshe caught the Falcons napping soon after in what was a classy response from the Blackhawks playmaker, with Parker- Walshe earning a penalty 10m out from the Falcons tryline and then taking the tap to run and score untouched.
Sunshine Coast scored another two easy tries, but Blackhawks forward Oshae Tuiasau kept Townsville in the fight with a barnstorming effort near halftime to make it 20- 10.
But former Blackhawks fullback Jahrome Hughes split the Blackhawks defence soon after the break, and another four- pointer from teammate Tui Kamikamica all but ended Townsville’s day.
A clever grubber from Blackhawks second rower Blake Leary put Jonathan Reuben in for his 26th try of the season, but Townsville’s run was over as Sunshine Coast piled on another two unanswered tries.
“We looked like a team that didn’t have much to play for, and that’s the way we played I suppose,” Woolf said.
“We just lacked attitude, particularly in defence.”