Feeney shrugs off injury woes
TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks utility back Jaelen Feeney was never going to let the heartbreak of his first serious injury keep him down for long.
Feeney ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in September last year as the Blackhawks were bundled out of the semi-finals with a 32-12 loss to fierce rivals the Ipswich Jets. The 24-year-old was already back running by December as he pulled out all the stops during the rehab process in hopes of returning to the playing field ahead of schedule.
Feeney was thrown in the deep end as he made his comeback against South Logan last month, pumping out 76 minutes off the bench after an early injury, but the Keebra Park product said he was just happy he no longer had to watch from the sidelines.
“Seven months and three weeks was as long as they could hold me off for,” he said.
“Most people come back in about nine to 12 months but I was doing my rehab four or five days a week. I was missing work just to go to rehab so I couldn’t sit on the sideline anymore.
“They weren’t rushing me back. They said I could come back whenever, but I had a sort of date in mind that I wanted to come back and I was one week off it, so I thought that was pretty good.”
Feeney has been impressive in his three games this season, including a rock-solid performance as the starting fullback in last weekend’s 24-22 win over the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
The former Newcastle Knight has been named at his preferred position in the halves for tonight’s away clash with Mackay after Kyle Laybutt’s one-match ban for a dangerous tackle.
Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne has hinted that Feeney could still shift to fullback but the man himself said he had full confidence in his ability, no matter which number is on his back.
“I just love being out on the field and playing footy,” Feeney said. “Fullback is different with the high balls and the balls across the ground, and you’ve got a lot of running to do, but I feel comfortable anywhere he puts me.”
The Blackhawks will have a point to prove tonight after the Cutters beat them 20-6 at Jack Manski Oval earlier this season, which was also Mackay’s first win over Townsville in eight attempts.
The Blackhawks have cemented a place in the Queensland Cup’s top four on the back of three straight wins but Feeney said the loss to their North Queensland rivals still burned.
“It was definitely mentioned, the forwards especially. A few ex-blackhawks have gone to the Mackay Cutters so I heard they were giving the boys a bit of s--t after the first win,” he said.