NRL casualty ward: Dylan Walker opens up about horror leg break

DYLAN Walker had hoped to return for Manly in round one but the horror leg break suffered last year will keep him out a lot longer, the Sea Eagles star has revealed. FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

Dylan Walker is working hard to get back on the field for Manly. Picture: Adam Yip

DYLAN Walker was desperate to return for the NRL season kick-off but Manly’s medical staff have re-evaluated their representative centre’s badly broken leg and nominated round five as a possible return date.

It is a frustrating setback for Walker, who suffered the injury last September representing the Prime Minister’s XIII in Papua New Guinea.

“I had my eye on round one, that’s when I wanted to play but they told me: ‘No mate, you need longer’,” Walker said yesterday.

“I am now supposed to miss the first month of the competition. That is what we are hoping for.”

That would put Walker on track for a round-five return against the Titans on the Gold Coast.

Dylan Walker is working hard to get back on the field for Manly. Picture: Adam Yip

“I am plugging away getting in some runs. A lot of physio, lot of icing with my foot in a bucket,” Walker said.

“I am ‘half-training’. Straight-line running, a bit of curve running. Today I started a little bit of agility but it wasn’t crash-hot to be honest.

“At the moment it is a bit of a confidence thing. It’s a long process.

“I don’t want to come back too early and something happens. It would be pretty frustrating and not good for my head space at the moment.”

Centres Matt Wright and Brad Parker will push to replace Walker for round one against Newcastle.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Anthony Milford (shoulder), Darius Boyd (hamstring) and Andrew McCullough (ACL) are on track to be ready for Round 1. “I’m touching wood but it’s looking very positive for all three,” Broncos high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said. Milford could play this weekend’s trial against the PNG Hunters in Port Moresby but while McCullough and Boyd are ready to play, they’re likely to be rested. Recruit Jack Bird is the biggest doubt for round one following off-season shoulder surgery. If not ready for the opening match he should return within the first month.

Anthony Milford (Shoulder, trials)

Andrew McCullough (ACL, Round 1)

Darius Boyd (Hamstring, Round 1)

Jack Bird (Shoulder, Round 1-4)

Andre Savelio (ACL, season)

BULLDOGS

Kieran Foran (shoulder/hamstring/back) got his first hit-out for his new club in Canterbury’s trial win over Canberra but will be rested this weekend. Aaron Woods (hamstring) could also be rested again.

Aaron Woods (Hamstring, Round 1)

Moses Suli (Ankle, Indefinite)

COWBOYS

Co-captains Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) and Matt Scott (ACL) made their long-awaited comebacks in the trial loss to Wests Tigers. Fullback Lachlan Coote (hamstring) missed the match. Shaun Fensom suffered a serious broken leg in the grand final and is hopeful of playing round one, but more likely to be saved for later in the first month.

Shaun Fensom (Broken leg, Round 1-4)

Josh Chudleigh (ACL, Indefinite)

DRAGONS

Euan Aitken and Kurt Mann both played in the trial against Hull after undergoing shoulder reconstructions over the off-season.

EELS

Clint Gutherson looks set to miss the early rounds following a knee reconstruction. Recruit Tony Williams has been suspended by Parramatta for the opening two rounds for a drink-driving offence. Kane Evans is pushing to return after undergoing surgery on a sickening forearm fracture sustained in Fiji’s World Cup opener.

Clint Gutherson (ACL, Round 4)

Kane Evans (Broken arm, Trials)

Tony Williams (Suspension, Round 3)

Siosaia Vave

KNIGHTS

Tautau Moga, Mitch Barnett and Daniel Saifiti will be right for round one after off-season shoulder surgeries, although Barnett will sit out the final trial. Dylan Phythian is set to miss the first month with the ACL rupture he sustained in round one last year.

Tautau Moga (Shoulder, Trials)

Mitch Barnett (Shoulder, Round 1)

Daniel Saifiti (Shoulder, Trials)

Dylan Phythian (ACL, round 5)

PANTHERS

Tyrone May is expected to miss the first month after injuring his ACL in the semi-final. Kiwi winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (ankle) is in doubt for the season opener against the Eels. Corey Harawira-Naera and Waqa Blake will play in the final trial following off-season shoulder surgery.

Tyrone May (ACL, Round 5)

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Ankle, Round 2)

Corey Harawira-Naera (Shoulder, Trials)

Waqa Blake (Shoulder, Trials)

Tyrone Phillips (Pectoral, Round 10)

RABBITOHS

Inglis is back at full training and is pushing for a Round 1 return, but Souths’ medical staff remain cautious and may force him to wait until Round 2 or Round 3.

Greg Inglis (ACL, Round 1-2)

Angus Crichton (Finger/hip, Round 1)

Adam Reynolds (Foot, Round 1)

Connor Tracey (ACL, Indefininte)

RAIDERS

Josh Hodgson is aiming for an August return after rupturing his ACL playing for England in the World Cup.

Josh Hodgson (ACL, round 20)

ROOSTERS

Coach Trent Robinson has revealed Luke Keary is back training after breaking his jaw and is on track to play in the opening round against the Wests Tigers, or even in the side’s final trial against Manly. Cooper Cronk will feature against the Sea Eagles, along with fellow big-name recruit James Tedesco (mumps).

Luke Keary (Jaw, Round 1)

SEA EAGLES

Forward Darcy Lussick (ankle) is out for 4-6 weeks. Jake Trbojevic will be right for round one after tearing his pectoral playing for Australia in the World Cup. Dylan Walker (broken leg) had hoped to be in contention for Round 1 but looks set to miss the opening month. Jorge Taufua is hoping to start the season after tearing his ACL in June last year.

Jake Trbojevic (Pectoral, Round 1)

Dylan Walker (Leg, Round 5)

Jorge Taufua (ACL, Round 1)

SHARKS

New recruit Braden Uele failed to finish Cronulla’s trial against Manly after copping a head knock.

Braden Uele (Concussion, TBC)

STORM

Billy Slater is set to miss Friday night’s testimonial match for his Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith and North Queensland Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston. The 34-year-old has been cleared of any serious damage to his troublesome left shoulder after he jarred it late in the first half of the Storm’s 38-4 World Club Challenge win over Leeds at AAMI Park. Recruit Sam Kasiano injured his ankle in Melbourne’s trial against Newcastle and missed the World Club Challenge. Sandor Earl is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Billy Slater (Shoulder, Round 1)

Sam Kasiano (Ankle, Round 1)

Sandor Earl (ACL, Season)

Patrick Kaufusi (Foot, Trials)

WESTS TIGERS

Jacob Liddle (shoulder), Chris McQueen (neck) and Ben Matulino (niggles) were rested from the Tigers’ trial win over the Cowboys.

TITANS

Recruit Jai Arrow is still on track for Round 1 despite suffering a broken rib, he told NRL.com. Winger Anthony Don is in the most doubt for round one after an infection forced him into a second round of shoulder surgery.

Jai Arrow (Rib, Round 1)

Kevin Proctor (Throat, Trials)

Michael Gordon (Hand, Trials)

Anthony Don (Shoulder, Round 1)

Ryan James (Ankle, Trials)

Ashley Taylor (Ankle/Shoulder, Trials)

Nathan Peats (Shoulder, Round 1)

Morgan Boyle (Shoulder, Round 1)

Jack Stockwell (Shoulder, Trials)

WARRIORS

Recruit Gerard Beale suffered a severe broken leg for New Zealand in the World Cup and is aiming to return in May. Solomone Kata missed the World Cup due to a broken foot but returned for the first trial. Agnatius Paasi (knee) failed to finish the first trial.

Gerard Beale (Broken leg, Round 10)

Agnatius Paasi (Knee, TBC)