K2G
06-01-14, 03:56 PM
Elbow surgery could force Greg Bird out of the inaugural Auckland Nines
January 06, 2014 12:47PM
TITANS co-captain Greg Bird is aiming to make his first *appearance of the year in the inaugural Auckland Nines but has revealed he could be forced to enter round 1 of the NRL without any pre-season games.
Bird, who was the Gold Coast's player of the year in 2013, had elbow surgery a *fortnight ago to alleviate the excruciating pain he was suffering from an exploded bursa and floating bone fragments.
The NSW Origin star is facing six weeks out of full contact work, meaning he will be touch and go for the Gold Coast's first trial against the Warriors on February 9 in Auckland.
The nine-a-side tournament follows the next weekend (February 14-15) before the *Titans round out their pre-season against the Cowboys in Toowoomba on February 22.
Bird said he was desperate to play in the new concept but his pre-season appearances would be dictated by how his elbow recovers.
"I want to play the Nines, that's my goal, but I understand if I'm not ready then I'm not ready. The season is the most important thing," he said.
"I'm not fussed on the trials but the Nines is something I want to be part of.
"It seems like it's going to be a pretty good gig."
Bird, 29, carried the painful elbow injury last season and throughout Australia's successful World Cup campaign.
The back-rower returned from the UK in early December and went under the knife just over a week later.
Fellow co-captain, Nate Myles, had groin surgery around the same time.
Bird, who got engaged to partner Becky Rochow in *Europe after the World Cup, said his recovery was progressing well.
"It was the same (at the World Cup) as it was all *season. Painful and every time I got a bang on it, it blew up," Bird said of the injury.
"They cleaned it out. I had heaps of floating bone and bits of the bursa that exploded multiple times.
"They took all of that out and told me it's about a six-week recovery.
"Everything's going all right. It feels all right.
"It's strapped and I haven't done anything on it yet apart from rehab exercises and trying to keep the swelling down. I see the specialist (today)."
Bird and Myles will miss most of the Titans' pre-season which has been affected by the availability of their World Cup representatives.
But Bird said that he would start training by himself next week and he wasn't worried about missing so much time with the team.
"I'll be fine. I'll start training in the next week on my own and doing a bit," he said. "Once I get back with the boys I won't be lagging *behind."
The Titans return to pre-season training today.
Meanwhile, under-fire centre Maurice Blair will have his case heard in Maryborough Magistrates Court tomorrow after he was arrested on New Year's Eve and charged with drinking in public and obstructing police.
From http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/elbow-surgery-could-force-greg-bird-out-of-the-inaugural-auckland-nines/story-fnj94ixl-1226795841208
January 06, 2014 12:47PM
TITANS co-captain Greg Bird is aiming to make his first *appearance of the year in the inaugural Auckland Nines but has revealed he could be forced to enter round 1 of the NRL without any pre-season games.
Bird, who was the Gold Coast's player of the year in 2013, had elbow surgery a *fortnight ago to alleviate the excruciating pain he was suffering from an exploded bursa and floating bone fragments.
The NSW Origin star is facing six weeks out of full contact work, meaning he will be touch and go for the Gold Coast's first trial against the Warriors on February 9 in Auckland.
The nine-a-side tournament follows the next weekend (February 14-15) before the *Titans round out their pre-season against the Cowboys in Toowoomba on February 22.
Bird said he was desperate to play in the new concept but his pre-season appearances would be dictated by how his elbow recovers.
"I want to play the Nines, that's my goal, but I understand if I'm not ready then I'm not ready. The season is the most important thing," he said.
"I'm not fussed on the trials but the Nines is something I want to be part of.
"It seems like it's going to be a pretty good gig."
Bird, 29, carried the painful elbow injury last season and throughout Australia's successful World Cup campaign.
The back-rower returned from the UK in early December and went under the knife just over a week later.
Fellow co-captain, Nate Myles, had groin surgery around the same time.
Bird, who got engaged to partner Becky Rochow in *Europe after the World Cup, said his recovery was progressing well.
"It was the same (at the World Cup) as it was all *season. Painful and every time I got a bang on it, it blew up," Bird said of the injury.
"They cleaned it out. I had heaps of floating bone and bits of the bursa that exploded multiple times.
"They took all of that out and told me it's about a six-week recovery.
"Everything's going all right. It feels all right.
"It's strapped and I haven't done anything on it yet apart from rehab exercises and trying to keep the swelling down. I see the specialist (today)."
Bird and Myles will miss most of the Titans' pre-season which has been affected by the availability of their World Cup representatives.
But Bird said that he would start training by himself next week and he wasn't worried about missing so much time with the team.
"I'll be fine. I'll start training in the next week on my own and doing a bit," he said. "Once I get back with the boys I won't be lagging *behind."
The Titans return to pre-season training today.
Meanwhile, under-fire centre Maurice Blair will have his case heard in Maryborough Magistrates Court tomorrow after he was arrested on New Year's Eve and charged with drinking in public and obstructing police.
From http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/elbow-surgery-could-force-greg-bird-out-of-the-inaugural-auckland-nines/story-fnj94ixl-1226795841208