Army’s Talesha Quinn in battle to play with Dragons in NRLW clash against Warriors
AFTER spending much of the weekend in tears, Jillaroos star Talesha Quinn will spend much of this week fighting to take her place in the St George Illawarra side taking on the Warriors on Saturday.
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AFTER spending much of the weekend in tears, Jillaroos and Blues star Talesha Quinn expects to spend much of this week fighting to take her place on the field for the St George Illawarra Dragons against the Warriors on Saturday.
Quinn is searching for a way to play for the Dragons knowing she is only nine weeks out from knee surgery and 12 weeks would normally be required by her employers.
Quinn was blindsided by the army failing to upgrade her so she could play Sunday’s game against the Broncos despite passing a rigorous army fitness test more than a week earlier and doing everything she believed she needed to do to play.
“I left the office crying. I did everything by the book and then I got told I can’t potentially play any of the games. I missed the first ever game. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to try and understand,’’ Quinn said.
“I don’t think I have ever cried so much in my life.
“A policy was discovered late last week which effectively banned me for another four weeks. I’ve taken advice from my boss in the army and been told that a letter clearing me from my surgeon will help me get upgraded.’’
Quinn, given time out to prepare and play in the inaugural women’s premiership, spent Monday chasing up the letter which she will lodge with her immediate boss, doctor and the medical system.
Dragons coach Daniel Lacey said he will name Quinn on Tuesday in the team to take on the Warriors in round two while the situation is being sorted.
Lacey is also waiting to hear if Sydney youngster Jessica Sergis will be cleared to play after she left the field for a HIA after a massive clash with Broncos winger Julia Robinson.
“She’s having a brain base check on Tuesday and we’ll take it from here,” Lacey said.
“She looked really good on the plane though. But we need to put the health of the player first.”
In other news the Sydney derby between the Dragons and Roosters will be played in the final round of the new NRL women’s premiership and could have a bearing on the make-up of the first ever grand final.
The schedule for the remaining two regular rounds of the competition has been released.
The second round will feature the Roosters hosting the Broncos at Allianz Stadium on Friday and the Dragons hosting the Warriors at ANZ Stadium on Saturday before the St George Illawarra men’s team takes on South Sydney.
The third week of the competition will pit the Warriors against the Broncos in Melbourne on September 21 with the Sydney derby between the Roosters and Dragons to be contested at Allianz Stadium on September 22.