Danny
19-04-2004, 10:10 PM
By Chris Stedman
April 19, 2004
ADAM MacDOUGALL is expected to undergo surgery today to repair a ruptured achilles tendon that will sidelined him for the season, but the 28-year-old former Test winger has vowed to continue his career.
MacDougall, who has fought back from a number of career-threatening knee injuries, was inconsolable in the South Sydney dressing-room on Saturday night moments after he left the field with his dreams of breaking back into Test football shattered.
The extent of the injury, which occurred in the final minutes of the Rabbitohs' 50-4 belting at the hands of Melbourne Storm, was not immediately evident to many at the ground, but MacDougall knew.
Apart form coping with the nine-tries-to-one loss, the Rabbitohs' ability to regroup will be sorely tested without MacDougall's skill and experience.
It follows the enforced retirement of their other major off-season buy Terry Hill with a chronic knee injury. The nine-Test veteran failed to play a game for the Rabbitohs after transferring from Wests Tigers.
The oldest of three brothers playing first grade, MacDougall, whose youngest brother Luke was on the wing for Souths, will have to endure a slow and exhaustive rehabilitation program in order to play again and this latest setback will test his resolve.
But Storm centre and younger brother Ben, who missed lining up against his brothers on Saturday night due to a hamstring injury, yesterday claimed Adam was determined to play again.
"Adam is just shattered. I went straight to the Souths' room thinking he had a bad ankle injury but he told me through teary eyes that it was his achilles," Ben MacDougall said.
"He was loving his football at Souths - especially playing with Luke. He really thought he could break back into the Test team.
"If anyone doubts Adam's desire to continue playing, then they don't know him. I was with him well into the night and he is already plotting his recovery and rehabilitation.
"Luke is really doing it really tough. In fact, our parents came down from Sydney for the match and what was meant to be a great family weekend ended up like this.
"If I can take anything out of this, it's just to give your all because you never know when injury can end your season."
Souths' misery was compounded with captain Bryan Fletcher complaining of foot soreness which has troubled him for some weeks.
Melbourne-born winger Jake Webster, in his second first-grade game, grabbed a hat-trick for the Storm with forward Danny Williams celebrating his 200th NRL game with two tries.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy goes into the camp with the Test team as assistant to Wayne Bennett a happy man.
He has entrusted the Storm's preparation for their home match with North Queensland to the game's most experienced assistants - Peter Sharp and Dean Lance.
The Cowboys were considered a bit unlucky losing 19-12 before a crowd of more than 25,000 at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night while Cronulla scored an unexpected 38-24 home win over Canberra.
The Bulldogs survived a late flurry from the New Zealand Warriors to win 24-18 at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Friday night.
The Australian
April 19, 2004
ADAM MacDOUGALL is expected to undergo surgery today to repair a ruptured achilles tendon that will sidelined him for the season, but the 28-year-old former Test winger has vowed to continue his career.
MacDougall, who has fought back from a number of career-threatening knee injuries, was inconsolable in the South Sydney dressing-room on Saturday night moments after he left the field with his dreams of breaking back into Test football shattered.
The extent of the injury, which occurred in the final minutes of the Rabbitohs' 50-4 belting at the hands of Melbourne Storm, was not immediately evident to many at the ground, but MacDougall knew.
Apart form coping with the nine-tries-to-one loss, the Rabbitohs' ability to regroup will be sorely tested without MacDougall's skill and experience.
It follows the enforced retirement of their other major off-season buy Terry Hill with a chronic knee injury. The nine-Test veteran failed to play a game for the Rabbitohs after transferring from Wests Tigers.
The oldest of three brothers playing first grade, MacDougall, whose youngest brother Luke was on the wing for Souths, will have to endure a slow and exhaustive rehabilitation program in order to play again and this latest setback will test his resolve.
But Storm centre and younger brother Ben, who missed lining up against his brothers on Saturday night due to a hamstring injury, yesterday claimed Adam was determined to play again.
"Adam is just shattered. I went straight to the Souths' room thinking he had a bad ankle injury but he told me through teary eyes that it was his achilles," Ben MacDougall said.
"He was loving his football at Souths - especially playing with Luke. He really thought he could break back into the Test team.
"If anyone doubts Adam's desire to continue playing, then they don't know him. I was with him well into the night and he is already plotting his recovery and rehabilitation.
"Luke is really doing it really tough. In fact, our parents came down from Sydney for the match and what was meant to be a great family weekend ended up like this.
"If I can take anything out of this, it's just to give your all because you never know when injury can end your season."
Souths' misery was compounded with captain Bryan Fletcher complaining of foot soreness which has troubled him for some weeks.
Melbourne-born winger Jake Webster, in his second first-grade game, grabbed a hat-trick for the Storm with forward Danny Williams celebrating his 200th NRL game with two tries.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy goes into the camp with the Test team as assistant to Wayne Bennett a happy man.
He has entrusted the Storm's preparation for their home match with North Queensland to the game's most experienced assistants - Peter Sharp and Dean Lance.
The Cowboys were considered a bit unlucky losing 19-12 before a crowd of more than 25,000 at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night while Cronulla scored an unexpected 38-24 home win over Canberra.
The Bulldogs survived a late flurry from the New Zealand Warriors to win 24-18 at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Friday night.
The Australian