Latrell needs a break

[Maxy Walker]

It's probably best that he never plays again. So he never gets injured you see.

[Thirteen]

He will be getting one in September.
I strongly disagree. He needs to learn to play with injury obviously within reason. He is not being paid to have a break. He will learn that first grade footy in not easy from an early age.

[ism22]

He doesn't need a break. He needs to keep doing what he's doing. He won't get better on the sideline and his body won't adjust to the rigours of nrl by resting. He's not a kid. He's 19. He's a professional athlete and he'll get 4 months off at the end of the year.

Watching NRL Rookie I think that Freddy would agree with you. One of his tests for injured players with 'common injuries' has been whether or not they can pass the match fitness tests (despite being injured - by supressing their cringing...etc) and play injured.

As a former athlete, I don't agree with this position. Maybe it's why I wasn't good enough for the Olympics, but I had 1 injury in my whole career... it was 'minor' but I did as the doctor/physio said... took 6 months off and slowly got back into things (this took lots of menial work to strengthen things up again). The physio said that my right leg would never be as flexible as my left again... I put in extra work stretching and it is now just as flexible as the left. I back my decision because I healed the injury 100% and didn't get other resulting injuries due to imbalance...etc. Others p!ssed me of because they ALWAYS had injuries to tend to, ALWAYS used injuries as an excuse for lack of performance and NEVER took time off to heal the bloody injuries.

Clearly Latrell's a big step up from what I ever was (although I competed at Telstra A and some international meets... so while he makes money from it, we were arguably at a similar level in different sports). But IMO knowing when you're busted, and having the support to heal properly is important. People keep comparing Latrell to GI. May I suggest that he doesn't want to end up like GI is today in relation to his knees? IMO Gun indigenous players shouldn't be told that they risk ending their career unless they play injured... Copley's like me in that he has the law career to fall back on. But gues like Latrell probably don't, so IMO should be encouraged to take care of their bodies. If Latrell were rested for the rest of the season, it wouldn't hurt our finals prospects this season and could improve our prospects for next season IMO...

[Guest]

Its hard to speculate without knowing the full extent of his injuries. If our season was on the line maybe its worth risking but personally I would like to see this young superstar used sparingly. His long term potential is mind blowing.

[Thirteen]

If Latrell is happy to play week in, week out, then let him. He needs to learn to play with injuries, espec in the back half of the year. 3/4 of the NRL are playing injured at this stage of the season.

He's young, and seems to recover from niggles pretty quickly. I reckon he looks more injured than he actually is because when he gets any sort of injury he seems to panic at the thought of it being serious and his body language shows it. That's natural for a young kid, but he will learn to get past that in time. Looking at his reaction to an injury in the Dogs game you would have sworn he was gone for a few weeks, but he was out on the park last Friday against Parra.

Happy to play??
He is contracted. He doesn't get a choice.

[Bigchook]

Happy to play??
He is contracted. He doesn't get a choice.

Exactly. If he's on the field it means he's passed a fitness test and he won't be risking further long-term damage. The nrl is a hard game. You don't get much time to adjust and the length of career is short. The G.I analogy above is incorrect I believe. I'm pretty sure Inglis wouldn't trade his bung knees for what he's achieved in the game. Premiership, Clive churchill, state of origins tests etc. I think you have to go into the game today knowing that you will pay for it when you're older. Risk v reward.

[Thirteen]

Watching NRL Rookie I think that Freddy would agree with you. One of his tests for injured players with 'common injuries' has been whether or not they can pass the match fitness tests (despite being injured - by supressing their cringing...etc) and play injured.

As a former athlete, I don't agree with this position. Maybe it's why I wasn't good enough for the Olympics, but I had 1 injury in my whole career... it was 'minor' but I did as the doctor/physio said... took 6 months off and slowly got back into things (this took lots of menial work to strengthen things up again). The physio said that my right leg would never be as flexible as my left again... I put in extra work stretching and it is now just as flexible as the left. I back my decision because I healed the injury 100% and didn't get other resulting injuries due to imbalance...etc. Others p!ssed me of because they ALWAYS had injuries to tend to, ALWAYS used injuries as an excuse for lack of performance and NEVER took time off to heal the bloody injuries.

Clearly Latrell's a big step up from what I ever was (although I competed at Telstra A and some international meets... so while he makes money from it, we were arguably at a similar level in different sports). But IMO knowing when you're busted, and having the support to heal properly is important. People keep comparing Latrell to GI. May I suggest that he doesn't want to end up like GI is today in relation to his knees? IMO Gun indigenous players shouldn't be told that they risk ending their career unless they play injured... Copley's like me in that he has the law career to fall back on. But gues like Latrell probably don't, so IMO should be encouraged to take care of their bodies. If Latrell were rested for the rest of the season, it wouldn't hurt our finals prospects this season and could improve our prospects for next season IMO...

Wow! A real athlete amongst us. I always picture you lot as a bunch of over-weight couch potatoes.
What sport were you involved in?

[Mickie Lane]

Unless he is so injured that he cant play then he doesn't get a rest until after rd 26.
From my understanding of footy players the thing they like to do the most is play footy on the weekends they may not enjoy the training during the week but they love to play if they are fit.

[Ray Stehr]

He's 20 for crying out loud, what he needs is game time and more game time.

[Mad_Rooster_in_GraceLand]

Got all of youse hook line and sinker, the dude trolled you all lol...

[Ray Stehr]

Go away, you're such a bore.

[Vasco]

He's 20 for crying out loud, what he needs is game time and more game time.

Agreed. Can't get experience sitting in the stands.

[Maxy Walker]

Ray Stehr needs a break. He's been struggling since he named Nikorima our best number 6 since Freddy.

Put the keyboard away for a while Ray. There's always next year.

[Mad_Rooster_in_GraceLand]

Go away, you're such a bore.

He just turned 19 man not 20 you ol grumble bum, don't you like to be Stehrrd?