Halfback Hopes Gidley's Stay Is Short And Sweet
Sun Herald
Sunday April 20, 2008
KURT Gidley reckons his best position is fullback and he's unlikely to get any argument from Newcastle Knights halfback Scott Dureau.
Gidley has been handed the No.7 jumper for today's clash with Sydney Roosters after Dureau suffered torn ankle ligaments in a horrific tackle during last week's 34-22 loss to Brisbane.The 21-year-old is expected to be sidelined for several weeks and, while he is willing Gidley to fill in admirably in his absence, he also hopes the Test utility does not get too comfortable."I'm hoping he plays well, actually," Dureau said. "We need to get the team back in the winning circle and hopefully I can train and play well enough to get my spot back when I'm fit."But Kurt loves fullback and I think he's proved that's his best position, so hopefully I can get my way back in there."Dureau was injured in a fearsome tackle by Brisbane forward Greg Eastwood and the young playmaker is relieved the damage is not more severe."Hopefully it's only two or three weeks, which was better than the six weeks they first thought," Dureau said."I got a good result from the MRI scan, so I'm pretty happy with that."I've got a partial tear of the deltoid ligament in my ankle, but it could have been a lot worse."I think I dodged a bullet, really."My knee and hip and everything went a bit funny, so I've got out of it pretty lightly, I think." Dureau admitted the setback was hard to take, as he had just strung together five first-grade games - his first extended run in the team - and was growing in confidence each week."I was just starting to feel really comfortable there and get some combinations, so that's disappointing," he said. "But we've got the bye next weekend, so hopefully I only miss this one game and can come back after that." The Port Macquarie junior, who is off contract at season's end, was realistic about the likelihood of returning in the Central Newcastle NSW Cup team."I'd say so," he said. "I suppose it depends on how long I'm out, and whether there are any injuries, but most likely I'll come back in NSW Cup and hopefully I can quickly work my way back into first grade." Knights coach Brian Smith was hopeful Dureau would be back after the bye, along with some other key personnel who have been sidelined recently."After the bye we're hopeful that Jarrod Mullen [calf] will be right, Steve Simpson [knee] might be right and Scotty Dureau should be right," he said. "They'll either all be available or they'll be very close." Meanwhile, the Knights and former forward Kirk Reynoldson are still working towards a resolution to their protracted contract dispute.NRL appeals chairman Laurence Street has called for submissions from both sides. Once he has considered those, he will arrange a mediation hearing. Reynoldson was controversially released by the Knights at the end of last season, after being repeatedly omitted from the NRL team, leaving him one game short of activating a retention clause for a 2009 contract.The bearded second-rower has since joined struggling St George Illawarra and been a mainstay in their pack this season.
© 2008 Sun Herald