Danny
01-10-2004, 10:42 AM
Manly's George Smith didn't play enough games to qualify
Ranwick's Sott Fava has a suspected stress fracture to his calcaneus (heel)
Smith out of final
September 28, 2004
A TELEPHONE call yesterday morning ended Manly's hopes of having Wallaby star George Smith available for Saturday's Tooheys New Cup preliminary final against Eastwood at Waratah Stadium.
Not available... George Smith
On one end of the line was national coach Eddie Jones, who contacted his Manly counterpart Brian Melrose and informed him that the dynamic back-rower had reached his quota of three club games and couldn't play on the weekend.
And the bad luck continued for Eastwood's No.8 Scott Fava, with fears he would miss the game - and the grand final against Randwick if the Woodies get through - after suffering a suspected stress fracture to his heel.
He sustained the injury early in last Saturday's 57-15 loss to the Galloping Greens and gamely tried to remain on the field. "I had a CT scan and I will know more when I see my doctor [today]. If it is a stress fracture I will be out for six weeks," Fava said.
That news came less than a week after he missed selection in the Wallaby squad to tour Europe.
Smith's presence would have been a massive boost for the Marlins, especially after his standout performance in Manly's 35-0 win over Sydney University. But coach Melrose has no complaints. "We are just happy to have had George for those few games and at the end of the day you just have to accept the decision," Melrose said. "It is fair, it was never unclear. University lost Daniel Vickerman and we lose Smith this week - we know the deal."
* WALLABY back Mat Rogers is expected to be fined when he faces a NSW Rugby Union disciplinary panel today following his recent comments about the standard of club rugby.
The committee will be made up of Waratahs manager Dave Gibson, captain Chris Whitaker and CEO Fraser Neill.
The Daily Telegraph
Ranwick's Sott Fava has a suspected stress fracture to his calcaneus (heel)
Smith out of final
September 28, 2004
A TELEPHONE call yesterday morning ended Manly's hopes of having Wallaby star George Smith available for Saturday's Tooheys New Cup preliminary final against Eastwood at Waratah Stadium.
Not available... George Smith
On one end of the line was national coach Eddie Jones, who contacted his Manly counterpart Brian Melrose and informed him that the dynamic back-rower had reached his quota of three club games and couldn't play on the weekend.
And the bad luck continued for Eastwood's No.8 Scott Fava, with fears he would miss the game - and the grand final against Randwick if the Woodies get through - after suffering a suspected stress fracture to his heel.
He sustained the injury early in last Saturday's 57-15 loss to the Galloping Greens and gamely tried to remain on the field. "I had a CT scan and I will know more when I see my doctor [today]. If it is a stress fracture I will be out for six weeks," Fava said.
That news came less than a week after he missed selection in the Wallaby squad to tour Europe.
Smith's presence would have been a massive boost for the Marlins, especially after his standout performance in Manly's 35-0 win over Sydney University. But coach Melrose has no complaints. "We are just happy to have had George for those few games and at the end of the day you just have to accept the decision," Melrose said. "It is fair, it was never unclear. University lost Daniel Vickerman and we lose Smith this week - we know the deal."
* WALLABY back Mat Rogers is expected to be fined when he faces a NSW Rugby Union disciplinary panel today following his recent comments about the standard of club rugby.
The committee will be made up of Waratahs manager Dave Gibson, captain Chris Whitaker and CEO Fraser Neill.
The Daily Telegraph