Burleigh Bears hooker Tom Rowles expecting three months on sidelines after snapping right leg at Bilambil

BILAMBIL might be his beloved junior club but you wouldn’t blame Burleigh hooker Tom Rowles for steering clear of Jets territory in future.

Burleigh hooker Tom Rowles during a Queensland Cup match against Norths Devils. Photo: SMP Images/QRL Media

BILAMBIL might be his beloved junior club but you wouldn’t blame Burleigh hooker Tom Rowles for steering clear of Jets territory in future.

The 23-year-old suffered a badly broken leg during the Bears’ last round Gold Coast Tweed match at Bilambil on Sunday, forcing the clash to be abandoned after only eight minutes.

Having scooted out of dummy half, Rowles’ right leg got caught awkwardly as he was tackled by two Jets defenders, resulting in his tibia and fibula both snapping.

“I knew straight away,” he said. “It just went pins and needles and I looked down and it was just gone.”

Bizarrely, a shocking run of luck meant Rowles did not exactly find himself in unfamiliar territory.

“I had done it before when I was 14, pretty much the exact same but it was further down my (left) ankle,” he said.

“It was on the other Bilambil field too, I was playing for Bilambil back then.

“(This time) I had my ankle strapped so it was a bit higher – it was up near my shin.”

Proving bad things come in threes, Rowles’ younger brother Jack also broke his leg at the same venue 12 months ago while playing under-19s for the Jets against Burleigh.

An X-ray showing the double break in Tom Rowles’ right leg.

Rowles had a rod and several screws inserted into his leg during an operation on Monday afternoon.

“It definitely was a pretty clean break so they reckon about three months,” he said of his expected injury lay-off.

Rowles is keen to return to the paddock once his recovery is complete and press his case for another crack at Queensland Cup level, where he made nine appearances this season.

Burleigh finished the Gold Coast Tweed regular season in fourth place and will now take on Runaway Bay in an elimination playoff at Pizzey Park on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Matt Foster said the side will sorely miss the “quality” rake’s prowess around the ruck.

Rowles was disappointed at not being able to take part in Burleigh’s push for back-to-back titles but accepted “it’s just footy” and is confident his teammates can get the job done.

“We just need to hold the ball,” he said.

“That’s what (minor premiers) Tweed do well. They really hold the ball and complete their sets and keep the pressure on whereas a few times when we have versed them we’ve just been below par in that area but I know the boys are definitely keen to have another crack at them.”