Brookvale Oval: Waratahs request pitch inspection after string of Sea Eagles knee injuries
THE Waratahs have asked for an urgent safety inspection of Brookvale Oval ahead of their clash with the Blues amid fears the surface may be to blame for a rash of serious knee injuries.
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​THE Waratahs have asked for an urgent safety inspection of Brookvale Oval ahead of their clash with the Blues on Saturday night after the Sea Eagles revealed fears the surface may be responsible for a spate of serious knee injuries.
NSW Rugby shifted their Super Rugby clash with the Auckland-based Blues to Brookvale after Sydney FC booked out Allianz Stadium in case they hosted the A-League Grand Final.
Israel Folau is due to make his comeback in the suburban clash but the question of whether it might be moved back to Moore Park is now on the table following comments from the boss of Brookvale Oval’s main tenants, the Manly Sea Eagles, on Tuesday.
Manly CEO Lyall Gorman revealed the safety of the sand-based surface at “Lottoland” was part of an internal investigation into a string of major knee injuries. Three Sea Eagles players — five-eighth Lachlan Croker, backrower Curtis Sironen and prop Kelepi Tanginoa — have all had season-ending ACL injuries playing at Brookvale Oval, and only Tanginoa’s was due to a collision.
“I think that is a concern. The one thing we also want to do is talk to visiting clubs and see what their occurrences have been, if any,” Gorman told the Australian newspaper.
“Or is it unique to our playing squad? Players do ACLs as you know.
“We’re certainly looking at whether it is a playing surface matter.
“I spoke to our club doctor on Friday and what we call rehab and rehab work — preventive stuff — he would say are second to none.
“There is a possibility that two of our players have been wedged in a softer surface.”
Fears about the potential impact on the Brookvale Oval surface saw the Northern Beaches Council deny NSW Rugby permission to hold a Shute Shield curtain-raiser prior to the Tahs-Blues game.
NSW Rugby, understandably, raised serious concerns with Northern Beaches Council about the state of the field on Tuesday.
They said they had asked the ground hirer to make a confirmation of safety on Wednesday.
“The NSW Waratahs have spoken to the Northern Beaches Council and they will be conducting an assessment of the field in the next 24 hours,” a NSWRU spokesman said.
“The NSW Waratahs will be provided with an update once the inspection has been completed. The NSW Waratahs inspected the field on Monday and found it to be in good condition.”
The Waratahs played at the venue in February in a trial against the Rebels and reported no problems, but there has been plenty of traffic on it in the months since.
Although Allianz Stadium is free, there is no appetite to move the match at such a late stage. It would be a huge logistic problem and anger a large number of northern beaches fans who’ve already paid for tickets and made plans.
Meanwhile, aggressive flanker Will Miller has been rewarded for an impressive first season with a new deal that sees him re-signing with the Waratahs for another year.
“I’ve always wanted to be a Waratah and I am one now and I look forward to playing for another season with them, so I’m really happy with the offer I’ve got and look forward to the next year,” he said.
Though a No. 7 by trade, Miller has surpassed expectations by starting several games at No. 6 alongside Michael Hooper and the Norths man is tipped to be recalled to the starting team to take on the Blues.
The 25-year-old is not fussed, however.
“It’s one of those things — it depends what the coaches want to do and which way they want to play the game against what teams they’re playing,” he said.
“Obviously I like being on the field but if we’re going to be better off as a team with Ned at six or whoever, it’s better for the team it’s better for us.”
Originally published as Brookvale Oval: Waratahs request pitch inspection after string of Sea Eagles knee injuries
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