Danny
02-05-2004, 05:12 PM
Really good article on Tate's shoulder injury.....happy reading.
Tate shoulders way back
By Margie McDonald
April 30, 2004
THE 2004 season is only seven rounds old but it has already been an emotional one for Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and Test centre Brent Tate.
A nerve injury in his left shoulder in August almost ended his career, such was the risk of paralysis if he aggravated the joint with further knocks.
Tate, 22, didn't play after that last season and had three months' rest.
He was told by specialists he would have to sit out the first six weeks of 2004, but was back in his Brisbane jumper in round three against Wests Tigers and in the Australian team four weeks later against New Zealand.
This week he was named in the Queensland 22, which will be cut to 17, for the first Origin game on May 26.
It is quite an achievement; of personal will and physical healing.
"I haven't given it too much thought to be honest. I suppose I really haven't had a chance. I've just been so busy," Tate said.
"When I sit back and have a think about it ... I'll probably do that at the end of the year. It's just good to be back."
Dark weeks and months followed August 24 when Tate was thrown to the ground in a ball-and-all tackle by NZ Warriors winger Francis Meli.
Tate spent the night in Auckland Hospital with no feeling in his arm. Back in Brisbane he still had bouts of pins and needles, which he refers to as his arm "getting hot", and patches of numbness.
In the pre-season this year, the shoulder was still not right and again he visited specialists in Brisbane and Sydney, including St George Illawarra and Wallabies doctor Martin Raftery.
Raftery has been treating the Dragons' former Test prop Jason Ryles for a similar complaint. Ryles is due to make his return to league tomorrow after 10 months.
"There were times I thought about 2005," Tate said.
"I was always confident within myself that I'd get back but when doctors are telling you things, then I'm thinking maybe I might have to kiss this season goodbye.
"The worst thing was I just couldn't think about Test matches or Origin because I wasn't sure if I'd even be playing.
"Once you've made those games you just love them so much because they mean so much to you."
On March 24, he underwent another series of scans and was told to come back the next day for the results. He would either be able to play again or be told to wait until June for further clearance tests.
His coach Wayne Bennett went with him.
"When I got the okay to play. I can't remember exactly what went through my head. I was happy but apprehensive as well," Tate said.
"I rang my mum to tell her I could play again and she said 'are you happy?' She asked me twice before I answered and I think she knew there was a bit more to it than just being back."
The reticence was the possibility of having the left shoulder slammed to the ground again or taking the full contact of a tackle by a 100kg player.
"I was pretty nervous that first game (March 28) but the more you play, the more comfortable you feel."
Then he was named in the Australian 25-man squad four days later for the Anzac Test.
"You always want to be in those Test sides, so it was no different this time, I wanted to be there," he said.
Tate and 10 other players then had to back up for the Broncos-Penrith game at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday.
"It was hard to back up but you see someone like Shane Webcke put his body through all that punishment and then do it again a day later," Tate said.
"You're not game enough to want a rest because if he's doing that then how dare you not do it."
And the arm?
"(Against Penrith) I got a few hard knocks that last year would have made my arm go hot," he said.
The Australian
Tate shoulders way back
By Margie McDonald
April 30, 2004
THE 2004 season is only seven rounds old but it has already been an emotional one for Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and Test centre Brent Tate.
A nerve injury in his left shoulder in August almost ended his career, such was the risk of paralysis if he aggravated the joint with further knocks.
Tate, 22, didn't play after that last season and had three months' rest.
He was told by specialists he would have to sit out the first six weeks of 2004, but was back in his Brisbane jumper in round three against Wests Tigers and in the Australian team four weeks later against New Zealand.
This week he was named in the Queensland 22, which will be cut to 17, for the first Origin game on May 26.
It is quite an achievement; of personal will and physical healing.
"I haven't given it too much thought to be honest. I suppose I really haven't had a chance. I've just been so busy," Tate said.
"When I sit back and have a think about it ... I'll probably do that at the end of the year. It's just good to be back."
Dark weeks and months followed August 24 when Tate was thrown to the ground in a ball-and-all tackle by NZ Warriors winger Francis Meli.
Tate spent the night in Auckland Hospital with no feeling in his arm. Back in Brisbane he still had bouts of pins and needles, which he refers to as his arm "getting hot", and patches of numbness.
In the pre-season this year, the shoulder was still not right and again he visited specialists in Brisbane and Sydney, including St George Illawarra and Wallabies doctor Martin Raftery.
Raftery has been treating the Dragons' former Test prop Jason Ryles for a similar complaint. Ryles is due to make his return to league tomorrow after 10 months.
"There were times I thought about 2005," Tate said.
"I was always confident within myself that I'd get back but when doctors are telling you things, then I'm thinking maybe I might have to kiss this season goodbye.
"The worst thing was I just couldn't think about Test matches or Origin because I wasn't sure if I'd even be playing.
"Once you've made those games you just love them so much because they mean so much to you."
On March 24, he underwent another series of scans and was told to come back the next day for the results. He would either be able to play again or be told to wait until June for further clearance tests.
His coach Wayne Bennett went with him.
"When I got the okay to play. I can't remember exactly what went through my head. I was happy but apprehensive as well," Tate said.
"I rang my mum to tell her I could play again and she said 'are you happy?' She asked me twice before I answered and I think she knew there was a bit more to it than just being back."
The reticence was the possibility of having the left shoulder slammed to the ground again or taking the full contact of a tackle by a 100kg player.
"I was pretty nervous that first game (March 28) but the more you play, the more comfortable you feel."
Then he was named in the Australian 25-man squad four days later for the Anzac Test.
"You always want to be in those Test sides, so it was no different this time, I wanted to be there," he said.
Tate and 10 other players then had to back up for the Broncos-Penrith game at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday.
"It was hard to back up but you see someone like Shane Webcke put his body through all that punishment and then do it again a day later," Tate said.
"You're not game enough to want a rest because if he's doing that then how dare you not do it."
And the arm?
"(Against Penrith) I got a few hard knocks that last year would have made my arm go hot," he said.
The Australian