It was a welcome sight to see Phillip Makatoa return to the field on Sunday following surgical clearance post his Fractured 4th Metacarpal injury. Bobby Miller also returned to play with our partner club, Hills Bulls, following a low-grade hamstring injury. As mentioned above, Tui Katoa and Jake Toby were both late omissions from our game day team list and a massive blow to the team structure. Katoa is working through a low-grade hamstring injury that should see him right for our round 5 home game and Toby suffered an abdomen injury and is awaiting an MRI, return to play yet to be confirmed. Jack Boyling underwent Lisfranc Repair Surgery this week and we will know more once we receive in the surgical post operative opinion. After the BYE weekend, we look forward to welcoming back to the game team Regan Hughes and Logan Aldridge, followed the following week by Israel Ogden. Josh Bevan and Havi Tupouniua are set to return in the weeks after.

“Working in a part-time environment can be very challenging for all players and medical/performance staff managing injuries. This year we are really focusing on working with the players, so they understand how to best manage their injury in their daily lives including in their full-time jobs, alongside setting them up with specific gym and field-based rehab plans.” stated the teams Head Physiotherapist George Davis from Axis Athletic Performance Lab. He continued “This coupled with a collaborative approach between coaches, Edwin Tan our club doctor and David Guest our head of strength and conditioning allows us to push boundaries where plausible and ensure the boys return to team training, games and performing at their peak as soon as possible.”.