The_Darkhorse
15-02-2006, 09:59 AM
ST George Illawarra veteran Shaun Timmins is adamant Sonny Bill Williams can fulfil his amazing potential in the NRL even if injuries all but prevent him from stepping onto the training paddock.
Williams was yesterday ruled out for six weeks after developing stress fractures in both feet, just as he was making progress in overcoming a lingering knee injury.
The Bulldogs will again revise the 20-year-old's schedule to further minimise his impact training to allow him to fully recover and add to his 20 games in the top grade.
Timmins, 22, who hardly trained at all for several seasons after undergoing knee surgery four years ago, said Williams could still make a mark on the game even if he barely participated in team training sessions.
"For some normal 20-year-olds it would be difficult but he's not a normal 20-year old, he's a bit of a freak," Timmins said today.
"It could be (a problem) for most 20-year-olds, but looking at him, the size of him and how fit he is, he'll be alright.
"It's all about managing and making sure you don't overload it on the training field too much, especially at his age.
"Sonny is a pretty fit bloke anyway so there is a lot of stuff he can do fitness-wise like swimming to keep up his fitness.
"You've got to maintain it, but you can't do silly things like road running, that's got to be brushed.
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"If he looks after it right and the club do the right thing by him he should be sweet."
Bulldogs doctor Hugh Hazard said Williams would be "completely off his feet" in order to recover from the latest setback, with sprint training and ballwork off the agenda.
Timmins said it was still possible to make a contribution to the team despite limited ballwork and skills sessions.
"It wasn't too bad, I found it was alright because I was doing a fair bit of other stuff like swimming," he said.
"He'll learn what his body needs to do ... he just has to look after it."
ANOTHER BIG SOOKY CAT I RECKON
Williams was yesterday ruled out for six weeks after developing stress fractures in both feet, just as he was making progress in overcoming a lingering knee injury.
The Bulldogs will again revise the 20-year-old's schedule to further minimise his impact training to allow him to fully recover and add to his 20 games in the top grade.
Timmins, 22, who hardly trained at all for several seasons after undergoing knee surgery four years ago, said Williams could still make a mark on the game even if he barely participated in team training sessions.
"For some normal 20-year-olds it would be difficult but he's not a normal 20-year old, he's a bit of a freak," Timmins said today.
"It could be (a problem) for most 20-year-olds, but looking at him, the size of him and how fit he is, he'll be alright.
"It's all about managing and making sure you don't overload it on the training field too much, especially at his age.
"Sonny is a pretty fit bloke anyway so there is a lot of stuff he can do fitness-wise like swimming to keep up his fitness.
"You've got to maintain it, but you can't do silly things like road running, that's got to be brushed.
Advertisement:
"If he looks after it right and the club do the right thing by him he should be sweet."
Bulldogs doctor Hugh Hazard said Williams would be "completely off his feet" in order to recover from the latest setback, with sprint training and ballwork off the agenda.
Timmins said it was still possible to make a contribution to the team despite limited ballwork and skills sessions.
"It wasn't too bad, I found it was alright because I was doing a fair bit of other stuff like swimming," he said.
"He'll learn what his body needs to do ... he just has to look after it."
ANOTHER BIG SOOKY CAT I RECKON