Gasnier goneee goneeeee goneeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Spewing]

For the rest of the season.Are trials really worth the hassle?

The value of trials has all but evaporated with the news that Dragons and Australian star Mark Gasnier is expected to miss the entire NRL season after being injured in a glorified trial earlier tonight.

One St George Illawarra official tried to play down Gasnier's injury immediately after the match, however, it's now been revealed that the injury is much more serious than first thought.

Gasnier's expressions as he left the field gave no doubt that he was struggling and new his season was on the line.

The new Dragons co-captain sustained a torn pectoral muscle in the 63rd minute and immediately raced up the tunnel in agony.

With Sydney Roosters utility Chris Flannery out for 16 weeks with a broken leg and Matt Utai expected to miss a few weeks after injuring his ankle last weekend, there will be calls for teams to scrap trial matches and coaches will now be more and more reluctant to use their stars.

St George Illawarra might have won the Charity Shield tonight against South Sydney in what is traditionally the Rabbitohs Annual Grand Final, but the Dragons will no doubt swap the victory for a fit and healthy Gasnier.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

This is a REAL sore point with me. Just because the media starts drumming up the theory that trials are a waste of time, everyone starts thinking along the same lines. Of course trials are neccessary, they are more then neccessary unless the club wants to start the season a few lengths behind the rest of the pack. Injuries are a part of the game, the three that you mentioned, Gasnier, Utai and Flannery are as injury prone as they come and it is liekly that if they didn;t get injured now, it would only be a matter of time before it happened.

Trials need to be played unless we want a more then scrappy start to the year with no combinations and still testing players.

 

[Spewing]

This is a REAL sore point with me. Just because the media starts drumming up the theory that trials are a waste of time, everyone starts thinking along the same lines. Of course trials are neccessary, they are more then neccessary unless the club wants to start the season a few lengths behind the rest of the pack. Injuries are a part of the game, the three that you mentioned, Gasnier, Utai and Flannery are as injury prone as they come and it is liekly that if they didn;t get injured now, it would only be a matter of time before it happened.

Trials need to be played unless we want a more then scrappy start to the year with no combinations and still testing players.

I'm with you trials need to be played, but the injurys SUCK.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I'm with you trials need to be played, but the injurys SUCK.

Agreed but it is part of the game and it annoys me that the clueless media is campaigning for trials to be forgotten. The clubs wouldn't dream of it, the are an important part of the year.

 

[Spewing]

Agreed but it is part of the game and it annoys me that the clueless media is campaigning for trials to be forgotten. The clubs wouldn't dream of it, the are an important part of the year.

Maybe instead of playing trials we can bring back the sevens and play it over 2 weekends,just to bring the fitness back what do you think ?

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Maybe instead of playing trials we can bring back the sevens and play it over 2 weekends,just to bring the fitness back what do you think ?

Not in my opinion. 7's is nothing like real rugby league. It is pretty much a different game all together. The combinations wouldn't gel and injuries are just as likely if not more so due to the nature of the 7's game. Its just unfortunate that these injuries are occuring but they occur in all sports. I have heard of at least one season ending injury in the AFL trials.

 

[Spewing]

Not in my opinion. 7's is nothing like real rugby league. It is pretty much a different game all together. The combinations wouldn't gel and injuries are just as likely if not more so due to the nature of the 7's game. Its just unfortunate that these injuries are occuring but they occur in all sports. I have heard of at least one season ending injury in the AFL trials.

I know but ,what I was thinking atleast the sevens will be more injury free.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Couldn't the same injury occur in a H&A game? Is there any school of thought that injuries are more likely in trial matches? Seems like a massive beat up.

 

[Spewing]

Couldn't the same injury occur in a H&A game? Is there any school of thought that injuries are more likely in trial matches? Seems like a massive beat up.

WELL THATS THE MEDIA FOR YU.......

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Couldn't the same injury occur in a H&A game? Is there any school of thought that injuries are more likely in trial matches? Seems like a massive beat up.

It is a beat up, its just ridiculous to consider not having trials. I'm glad the NRL hasn't acknowledged it by commenting.

 

[Cleavy]

Gasnier is overrated, in my opinion.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Gasnier is overrated, in my opinion.

I used to think that way but my thoughts of Gaz have changed. He, along with Inglis are true game breakers and are two of Australia's biggest weapons against other international; teams. The mighty Kangaroos will struggle unless Lockyer fires, again.

 

[cosmonaut]

Gasnier is overrated, in my opinion.

Fair enough, just your opinion.

This is a devastating loss. Young Richard Williams will need to step up at least until Matty Head comes back from injury.

What a blow. Trial games need to be played, and the charity shield is a great tradition which always draws a good crowd (23,000 last night), but gee it hurts when things like this happen.

 

[POBT]

Maybe instead of playing trials we can bring back the sevens and play it over 2 weekends,just to bring the fitness back what do you think ?

The problem with 7s as a lead in to the season is that it gives only a proportion of your side any sort of game-time. Most forwards aren't selected (maybe a few hookers and wide running second rowers). You all see a lot of undersized backs who looked like superstars in 7s but don't step up to 13 man football.

I like watching 7s and wouldn't mind seeing it return to the RL calendar but it won't be at the expense of trials. As someone said, trials are a necessary evil in most football competitions.