KINGSIZE HEADACHE
SURGERY FOR TITANS PROP:
THE Titans have received another blow in their bid to stay in touch with the top eight with boom prop Max King set to have a seasonending shoulder operation.
Just eight weeks after having minor surgery to treat a heart condition, King faces another trip to the operating theatre for the fourth shoulder reconstruction of his embryonic career.
He will meet with Titans coach Garth Brennan today to decide whether to soldier on with a four-to-six week rehabilitation plan aimed at keeping him on the park.
But the reality is King cannot avoid a full reconstruction and Brennan would prefer he go under the knife now to ensure he is fully fit for the 2019 pre-season.
King, the grandson of Dragons legend Johnny, has been a key member of the Titans’ front-row rotation this season, but Brennan does not expect to see him back in action this season.
“We’re deciding whether to do the reconstruction right now or wait a little while longer,” Brennan said.
“The physios are saying he could take four to six weeks (of rehab) to get him back on the park, but he will need a shoulder reconstruction at some stage anyway.
“If we are going to rehab Max and he’s back in six weeks, it will only leave another six weeks until the finals and then he would have to have the operation, which would delay his return in pre-season.”
The promising 105kg bookend is no stranger to shoulder operations. King has had three previous surgeries on his left shoulder, but this time he has suffered damage to his right side.
In April, King had a procedure to address Supraventricular Tachycardia, a condition which causes rapid heartbeats. Incredibly, King, who was diagnosed with the condition three years ago, produced a great performance against the Broncos just days after the procedure.
King has played 28 games for the Titans since his NRL debut last year and Brennan regards the West Maitland product as a future spearhead of his pack.
“Max has been great for us this year,” he said. “I’m really disappointed he’s had this setback. He is still only young and he is a huge part of my plans for next year.
“He is only 21 so we need to look after his body and do the right thing by him.”