Manly winger David Williams has been given the all clear to resume contact training, five months after suffering a serious neck injury in the NRL.
Williams fractured a vertebra in last year’s Round 25 match against Melbourne at Brookvale Oval, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
After a number of weeks in a neck brace and some intensive rehabilitation, the 25 year old was given the go ahead to start training again, the club said in a statement on Tuesday night.
“The surgeon told me I’m clear to start contact training and will be right to play if I get selected for the World Club Challenge,” Williams said in the statement.
“I’ve been feeling ok for a while now.
“I’ve been training at a certain level and it’ll be great to be able to take it to the next level.”
The Sea Eagles do battle with Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge at Headingley’s Carnegie Stadium on February 17.
Bearfax
Guest
Bit injury prone because he puts so much heart into his play. But Wolfman is a great competitor. Hope he hasnt lost any of his pace. We'll miss Mr Reliable in Robertson and Hopoate is a big loss to Manly (hope he comes back after his Parra tenure in 2-4 years. But now we can see the abilities of young Oldfield, said to have speed to burn and a great football nous. Manly's backline remains stunning and the forward line up formidable with the very talented youngsters Buhrer and Lussick ready to make their names as permanent first graders and Tony Williams now comfortable in his role supporting the older skills of Watmough and Glen Stewart and their stable of several true work horses. Toovey's handling of the team of course will be a major factor though they retained their main training expert so they should be able to go the 80 minutes wthout problem. But their biggest problem will be covering injury in their stellar backline. Whare could come good after a couple of years of injury, but covering any backline position is going to be a problem. Without injury Manly will easily challenge for the title. With injury they could slip down the table and potentially miss the eight. An interesting year with a re-emerging Wests, a stronger and hopefully injury free Souths, the usual power teams Saints and Melbourne, an improving Canterbury, Parramatta, Cronulla, Penrith and Newcastle and Auckland again the major dark horse. Canberra cant go as bad as last year with their talent, and Gold Coast and North QLD continuing their 'ordinary one day, brilliant the next'. I think Sydney City will struggle, but who knows. And will Brisbane perform without Lockyer? Looks like a very competitive and fascinating year ahead. Bring it on
Robbo
Guest
Manly need the likes of David Williams on deck as there reserve stocks in the backs is pretty thin. Manly had a good year with injuries in 2011 which plays a big part in any clubs chances of end of season celebrations.....
Mals
Guest
Great news for Wolfy & for Manly! He will be an essential part of the backline this year with Hoppa Jnr & Robertson gone. Special thanks has to go to Billy Slater & co for making sure he didn't move when the injury occurred.