On Wednesday afternoon, news filtered through from Canberra that their star half Blake Austin had a broken hand and would likely miss the remainder of the NRL season.
However, he had surgery on Thursday in a desperate bid to play again in 2016.
The situation is strongly reminiscent of the one that the Sydney Roosters went through just 12 months ago.
In the Roosters’ Round 24 win over the Brisbane Broncos, co-captain and halfback Mitchell Pearce tore his hamstring.
Early media reports stated that Pearce would be out for the remainder of the season. However, Pearce was nearly selected in the Roosters qualifying final loss to Melbourne, then was named but pulled out of the semi-final win over Canterbury before returning for the grand final qualifier in Brisbane.
With the benefit of hindsight, coach Trent Robinson would have left him out and started with Jackson Hastings, but it wasn’t to be. A still-injured Pearce made his return, struggling with his hamstring before eventually coming off with a long time to go in the match.
As history shows, the Roosters were thrashed by the rampant Broncos 31-12 and many fans still question what might have been if they had let Pearce rest for another game.
It is vital for the Raiders to learn from the Roosters mistakes if they are to break a 22-year premiership drought in 2016.
They have a perfectly able replacement in Sam Williams. Williams was preferred to Austin in the first couple of matches this season. Don’t pick an unfit Austin just because he could play.
Pick him if he can play without re-aggravating his injury. But if they make the same mistakes as the Roosters did in 2015, they will be left to wonder what might have been.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Exactly. Worse case for Austin, he's in pain and gets a needle to play on. A hamstring that is not healed can go at anytime.
Albo
Guest
"Williams is probably the best depth half in the comp." Seriously ? Or was that a tongue in cheek quote this week coming from "one legged" Tom Trbojevic ? The Raiders have a massive problem if Blake and now possibly Sezer are out for any period of time. Williams has a handy kicking game but he is the slowest halfback in the game and is a virtual speed hump in defence. The Raiders already have a major issue with their right hand side defence as Manly regularly demonstrated last week. Adding Williams out there made it virtually porous. Sezer too is pedestrian but at least he provides the Raiders with its direction around the park. I think they need both a fit Blake & a fit Sezer to have any sort of chance in September.
zim
Guest
Just to clear something up: "Williams was preferred to Austin in the first couple of matches this season." Williams didn't play the first match and the only time he was preferred is because of injury to Austin, just like now. The first match Williams went down with a virus the day before the 38 degree heat game and Austin was pushed into the side instead of being given another week to recover from his shoulder injury. Austin suffered a leg injury in that game (and Sezer fractured an eye socket) so Sam Williams was the half back for the next few games. Williams is probably the best depth half in the comp. We're very lucky to have such a good back up.
Craig
Guest
Freddy isn't going to get a scholarship at Harvard any time soon that's for sure.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wasn't sure where to post this but roosters and learning a lesson seem,s like a good spot... Did anyone see the Sunday footy show this morning where Fittler went on a rant about the word penultimate. "I don't know why people use it, I don't know what it means. It's a stupid word. Why would someone come up with a word for second last?"
Craig
Guest
One of the worst articles I've read. How on earth is a broken hand similar to a hamstring? And secondly, how is it any different to the return of any other player that is returning from injury, which happens for every team on a weekly basis?
MAX
Guest
Excellent advice , Lachlan. Churchill's words "those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it" should be on the locker door of every coach, be it inside or outside. Ricky now has a double bunger... add Sezer's shoulder. Canberra impressed in patches. Jordan Rapana should be in receipt of a substantial monetary tribute from his team mates after each game, especially yesterday. He does a lot of their work.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If Austin were to come back and aggravate, I think it's 'easier' to play through a broken hand than a hamstring injury. Easier, of course is a relative term.