‘Better than expected’: Sharks provide update on injured star Siosifa Talakai

Siosifa Talakai is racing the clock to be fir for Cronulla’s finals game against the Cowboys, and his coach has provided an update on his fitness.

Siosifa Talakai looks set to play and that could be bad news for the Cowboys. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon says powerhouse centre Siosifa Talakai is recovering better than expected from a syndesmosis injury and is on track to play in Saturday’s qualifying final if he can get through Friday’s captain’s run.

Talakai hurt his ankle in the dying stages of last week’s win over Newcastle when Knights forward Mat Croker landed on his lower leg in a hip-drop tackle.

The Blues rookie was forced from the field and there were fears he could miss part of the finals, but the man with the eighth-most tackle busts this season looks set to play against the Cowboys.

Teammates feared the worst for Siosifa Talakai. Picture: NRL Photos

What’s helped Talakai is something called TightRope fixation, which helps to stabilise the lower leg.

It’s a triple boost for the Sharks, with fullback Will Kennedy and Toby Rudolf also training strongly as they prepare to return from lengthy injury lay-offs.

“He looks strong, probably better than expected,” Fitzgibbon said of Talakai, revealing Matt Ikuvalu also avoided an extended stint on the sidelines because of the TightRope.

“He got through more work than we thought yesterday, so he’s looking good.

“He trained quite well yesterday, so we’ll see how he pulls up this morning.

“The TightRope acts as the same integrity as the ligaments are supposed to be, so having a wire in there actually stopped it from those bones splitting apart and actually reinjuring it.

“It was a blessing for him.”