Star back-rower Jack Dempsey is targeting the NSW Waratahs’ nostalgic return to the SCG next season as his own comeback date following five months out with a hamstring injury.
Man of the match in Australia’s drought-breaking Bledisloe Cup win over the All Blacks in October, Dempsey tore two tendons off the bone during the Wallabies’ victory over the Barbarians a fortnight later.
He missed the spring tour but says he’s making great progress with his rehabilitation.
“It’s going well. I’ve had five weeks now since surgery,” Dempsey said on Monday.
“It’s one of those things that every week you feel a little bit better. You get a bit more mobile and it’s really about taking it one step at a time.”
After spending several months on the sidelines last year with a foot injury, Dempsey has learnt not to rush any comeback.
But he’s hopeful of being back on deck for the Waratahs’ Super Rugby grudge match with the Queensland Reds at the SCG on April 14.
It will be the first rugby match at the famous old ground since 1983.
“I’m hoping for an April return. Anywhere in April playing footy would definitely be a win, so this (game) here would be an awesome goal to achieve, if I’m back on the field by then,” the 23-year-old said.
The two captains from that match 34 years ago, NSW and Australian great Simon Poidevin and Queensland’s former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, were at the SCG on Monday to make the announcement.
Slack said he’d love to see a sellout crowd for the occasion and challenged the two sides to bounce back from disastrous 2017 campaigns to ensure a healthy turnout.
“That’s up to the Reds and the Waratahs in the weeks preceding (to perform) because we clearly know people like to follow teams that are going well,” he said.
“Both sides will be looking to improve on last season and, if they have and at that stage they’re close to undefeated, you’d like to think you’d have close to a full house.”
NSW coach Daryl Gibson pointed out that none of his Waratahs squad were even born the last time rugby was played at the SCG.
“We are honoured and delighted at the opportunity to play at a venue that holds such an iconic status in the world of sport,” Gibson said.
Adsa
Guest
Onya Wags, Ballymore on the hill, Qld playing in maroon jersey and blue shorts, off to the pig pen for a few rums, then of to the curry house with some tallies of XXXX. Simple times, fun times and amazingly times when Qld consistently won games.
Steve Johnson
Guest
Australian Barbarians played the French Barbarians in 1994 and NSW played NZ Maori in 2006 at the SCG, Atawhai. If you thought 1983 was a miserable day the 2006 match was played on a foul-weathered Friday night with the rain coming down in sheets. There were 7800 brave souls that night, 7599 attended in 1983.
Marto
Guest
Slacker ( apt name by the why ) why do you keep following me? ..Have you an itch you can`t scratch ? .You do know it`s very unlady like and unhealthy stalking people.? ..I await your frustrated and angst filled response,. Go on, type with your three thumbs and poke your tongue out ...hahaha..
Marto
Guest
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
G Slacker
Guest
Bravo. That's the second time you've regurgitated this tripe, which you couldn't even make up yourself. Took you long enough as well, was the line at Centrelink a bit long? Or was the free wifi at your local McDonalds not working? Anyway can't wait to see you Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V this rubbish for the next 6 months, when you aimlessly attempt to pick fights with people on the internet.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Dempsey is not a star back rower he is a handy young player . Coleman is not an enforcer he try's hard to compete with players with more attributes . Hunt is not brilliant he is solid . Kerevi has no idea about playing in the centres and Hooper spends most of his getting the way and having zero imput on the result .
Marto
Guest
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
wag
Guest
Agree Riddler, And with the QRU's financial position, the sooner they return to Ballymore the better.! When Rugby and Soccer originally moved to Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), I was told that crowds of around 13,000 were needed to break even financially?. Those figures may, or may not, hold today, and Ballymore does need some "refurbishment"! But I believe that, "jam-packed" it can handle crowds well in excess of 20,000. So if the crowds are below 20,000, then, by playing Queensland's Super Rugby matches at Ballymore, not only will that move provide the QRU with much-needed revenue, but it will also provide the atmosphere that is now lacking at the 52,500 seat Suncorp Stadium. Regarding public transport --- when previous Super Rugby games were played at Ballymore, continuous bus transport was provided from the various Rugby Clubs, and that could be backed-up by similar transport from Brunswick Street (Fortitude Valley) train station. Finally, the legendary Queensland teams were always known as Maroons -- NOT the insipid Reds ! It is time to return to Queensland's true colours, and to proudly wear the Maroon jersey once again !
riddler
Guest
never had the privilege to watch an international rugby game at the scg.. but i imagine u r right.. round shaped stadiums very rarely provide great rugby.. there are the exceptions of course but they are the exceptions.. ballymore will always be the best..
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Darren Walton’s story does not reveal why this allegedly nostalgic match has been scheduled for the SCG on April 14 next year. The reason is that Allianz Stadium next door is hosting the Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory A-League match on the same day. The story also says that it will be the first rugby match at the famous old ground since 1983. Wrong. To name but four matches, the first and third Tests of the 1984 Bledisloe Cup series were played at the SCG, while the Wallabies played there twice in 1986, against France on June 21 and Argentina on July 12. With a couple of mates, I stood shivering on The Hill and watched the NSW-Queensland match on June 11, 1983. It was an afternoon game but Sydney turned on a remarkably cold day. The players never rose to the occasion, NSW winning a drab match 7-6. Nostalgia is overrated. The SCG was not a good ground for watching rugby in 1983, and it won’t be any better in 2018. Andrew Slack’s hopes for a sellout crowd are unlikely to be satisfied. Given the clash with Allianz, this may have been an opportunity to take the match out of the Moore Park area, perhaps to Wollongong or Gosford. By this time next year, petitions aside, Allianz Stadium will have had its appointment with the wreckers’ ball. Are the Waratahs planning to base themselves at the SCG for up to three seasons? I think we should be told.
Quazi
Guest
With Gibson still as coach the Tahs will struggle again. The guy is useless and needs to go. 3 wins is a shocking outcome and there's no way he should still be there. Pack your bags and get your a** back to Canterbury
G Slacker
Guest
Except the window licker taking the time out of his lonely day to comment about it.
Marto
Guest
No one cares