KIERNAN SIDELINED
Bond need stopgap for Corbin
BOND University will deploy a stopgap strategy to cover for injured centre Corbin Kiernan this weekend.
Kiernan had started the Queensland Premier Rugby season with a bang but damaged his right shoulder while scoring a try in his side’s 26-15 loss to GPS on Saturday.
Scans have confirmed a labral tear but the Bull Sharks hope it will not translate into season-ending surgery.
“At this stage we’re going to try to look at rehabbing,” coach Brad Harris said.
“He has dislocated his other shoulder before and rehabbed that, came back to play and didn’t reinjure it.
“The best case would be six to eight weeks if the rehab goes smoothly; the worst case is if we get a setback, we will just bite the bullet and do surgery and he’s out for the season.
“It’s a shame. He was playing such good football.”
Kiernan, 26, joins the likes of flyhalf Mitch Third and No.8 Nuku Swerling in Bond’s injury ward.
Outside centre Dan Boardman is likely to switch to the No.12 jersey, with Ryan Menzies and Joey Fittock among those who could play No.13. Fittock has plenty of experience at outside centre and could be covered at fullback by Max Dowd.
“We have got a couple of options but whatever we do this weekend will be more short term than longer term,” Harris said. “We do have Franky Calugay, he’ll be in line to return in probably three or four weeks.
“There’s a bit of cavalry coming, it’s just a matter of getting through this period now.”
Calugay is a centre who is on the comeback trail from an ACL knee injury sustained last year.
After their home game against Easts this Saturday, Bond don’t play again until May 4 due to a competitionwide break for Easter and then a Round 5 bye.