Rugby Key Player Lost In Pains Due To Leg Injury After Unsuccessful Surgery…

Toby Rudolf, an enforcer for the Sharks, has consulted a left-field medical specialist in an effort to recover from a bothersome toe injury that hindered his 2023 campaign.

Rudolf needed surgery after sustaining a sprain between his big toe and foot, also known as “turf toe,” which required three months of recuperation.

When he went back to the field in July, he was still in pain, especially when he was pushing off to sprint and his toe bent.

According to reports, Rudolf’s pre-season mobility was restricted to walking. He has been collaborating with the Australian Ballet’s head physiotherapist to address his injury.

“I’ve got turf toe but it’s the extreme end of it and my joint (at the base of my big toe) is just staying angry,” Rudolf said to the ABC.

“I’ve been sent to see the head physiotherapist at the Australian Ballet … I’m not expecting magic hands but hopefully she can let us know where we’re going with our program and hopefully she says we’re on the right track.

“A couple of sessions where it’s 40 degrees Celsius, I don’t mind being on the sideline shouting, ‘Go on boys, you’ve got this’.

“But in all seriousness, that’s where you build your connection and trust as a team, going through the hurt locker is how you get closer, although it sounds weird I love going through that hardship.”

The Australian Ballet’s medical team are accustomed to toe injuries due to the pressure on the feet of the country’s best ballerinas.

Rudolf also revealed he’d given up drinking in a bid to be fit and firing come the season’s start, recently putting pen to paper on a two-year extension with the Sharks.

“I believe I can speak for the majority of the team when I suggest that we implement a drinking ban,” he stated.

“This year, I’m all in; I’m not drinking.” I stand by what I said to Fitzy on Mad Monday when I was all fired up, but I also told him that because I wanted to be held responsible.

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Raider breaks silence after medical retirement claims — Off-Season Central

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has revealed backrower Corey Harawira-Naera is facing a medical retirement following his mid-game seizure this year.

Harawira-Naera hasn’t played since collapsing on the field during the Raiders’ clash against the Rabbitohs in Round 13.

The New Zealand Test representative was sidelined for the rest of the season as doctors tried to get to the bottom of what triggered his seizure.

It was expected Harawira-Naera would return in 2024, but Stuart has confirmed the club are all but resigned to the Kiwi never playing again.

“It is really sad for the kid… it’s a tragedy actually,” Stuart told WWOS.

“The medical reports we are getting is that he is very unlikely to play again.

“At 28, that’s tough and he has been good for us.

“But we are supporting him and looking for a pathway for him after football.

“We would like to keep him in the game and in the club.”

Harawira-Naera himself has responded on social media, taking to Instagram to share his side of the story.

“Nothing confirmed yet whanau (family), more to come from my end,” he posted.

“Merry early Xmas to all, big love to those who have reached out.”

The Raiders are exploring their options for salary cap relief for Harawira-Naera, who is contracted until the end of 2026.

WIGHTON SENDS SCARE THROUGH SOUTHS

South Sydney’s star recruit Jack Wighton sent a scare through his new club after reportedly going down at training on Tuesday.

Wighton was running when he hit the deck with what club officials initially feared was a knee problem but was later diagnosed as a calf issue.

The 30-year-old will now rest over Christmas before joining the club’s rehab group when players return from the break on January 9, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou told the masthead he was optimistic Wighton could be running freely again by mid-January.

“They didn’t want Jack putting pressure on it when he walked off so they helped him off the field to make sure he didn’t put too much weight on it,” Demetriou said.

Once they were inside, the situation wasn’t as dire as initially believed. It’s a calf injury, not a knee injury.

Jack strained his calf as he attempted to push off. It’s not too bad, according to the physiotherapists.

“We hope he will be running probably around January 9th when we start back. We only have one more training day left (this year).

“By then, he’ll be running rehab, and by mid-January, he’ll be training with the team,” the person said.

“We’re off for two weeks.”

ARTHUR CHALLENGES BROWN

Eels coach Brad Arthur is expecting star five-eighth Dylan Brown to bounce back in a big way in 2024 and repay the faith the club has shown in him.

Brown’s 2023 campaign was shrouded in controversy with the playmaker suspended for seven games after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual contact without consent at a licensed venue in Double Bay.

Speaking to the SMH, Arthur is confident Brown “will have a big year” for the Eels next season.

“Before Dylan was rubbed out last season, he was one of the best players in the competition. Then look what he did in that last Test for the Kiwis [in November],” Arthur said.

Dylan simply needs to play that way all the time. We need him on the team every week when you’re making the kind of money he is.

At the age of 23, Dylan hasn’t exactly fulfilled his potential.

Dylan possesses the X-factor, which he uses to support our position. It’s also what he does for us on defense. He needs to know how vital he is to this team and that. We’ve had some insightful discussions about it.

“He wants to make up to his teammates for what went wrong the previous season, as well as to his family and the fans.” We’ll have him for sure the following year.