Gilbert’s recovery on track

COWBOYS breakout forward Tom Gilbert said a late injury in the pre-season had been a “kick in the guts” but declared he would not let it hold him back.

Gilbert, who made 12 appearances in his debut season last year, was on track to cement himself in Todd Payten’s regular 17.

The teenage firebrand also had his sights set on a potential starting berth in the middle of the field, before an innocuous tackle brought him crashing down on the eve of the season.

During an opposed session against feeder club Townsville Blackhawks, a player landed on Gilbert’s leg during a tackle, breaking his fibula.

Gilbert has been staunch in his approach to his rehabilitation under physiotherapist Steve Sartori and strength and conditioning coach Ash Graham, and after returning to running earlier this week he declared he would be back on the field in time for the Cowboys’ round four clash against the Sharks.

“It is definitely a kick in the guts. I am not going to lie, it has definitely slowed me down,” Gilbert said.

“It has hindered my chances of really getting into the side. In those early rounds I am hoping the boys put in some good performances and make my chance to come back difficult. But that is a role we play as a team and a squad. These things happen, and in all honesty I am glad it happened to me compared to other boys, because I back my recovery and I back my ability to get back on field and not let it hold me back.

“It wasn’t something I was expecting, you don’t expect an injury at all, but at that time of year when I thought I have had one of the best preseasons I have had and I was ready to go, and fighting for spots was crucial at that time. It is footy though.

“I am resilient enough to take it. Not taking anything away from other boys, but I know I can take it. I have had injuries in the past, and if I miss two or three games it is not going to be a problem.”

The young middle forward exploded on to the NRL scene after a dominant rookie season with the Townsville Blackhawks in the 2019

Queensland Cup where he won the competition’s Lock of the Year award.

He was upgraded to the Cowboys’ main roster the following season, and it wasn’t long before former coach Paul Green blooded him into the top grade. After a year of switching between the middle

and time as an edge forward, new coach Todd Payten has given him clarity on his role this pre-season.

“He had me in the middle and it was good to have no chopping and changing. It gave me time to knuckle down and focus on the middle,” Gilbert said.

“We have some great forward leaders at the club I can learn off, and I am really lucky I have Jase (Taumalolo) and Josh (Mcguire) there to help me as a player to develop on and off the field. To be able to be cemented in there the whole pre-season to learn off them I am extremely lucky.

“Toddy being an ex-forward as well, playing in the middle, and (assistant coach) Dean Young, it has been a good learning experience for myself.”

He has had a fight on his hands to match it with the Cowboys senior forwards in the middle of the park, but he liked it when Payten refused to split training sessions into a top team and the rest.

“Not knowing anything it kept me driving, it kept me pushing.

“That uncertainty kept a lot of motivation in the squad for a long and gruelling preseason,” he said.