Gold Coast Titans skipper Ryan James has suffered another ACL injury after missing the bulk of the 2019 NRL season with the same injury.
Gold Coast star Ryan James has suffered a cruel blow after he re-injured the ACL that ended his 2019 NRL season prematurely.
The 28-year-old was on track to make a comeback to the field at the Indigenous All Stars match next month, but scans are expected to confirm he will be sidelined for another extended period.
The Titans confirmed Ryan was involved in a collision at training on Friday morning and preliminary scans indicate a reoccurrence of the ACL injury that sidelined him from round 6 last season.
It’s a huge blow for the Titans, who are desperate to improve on their last-place finish from last season.
“Further scans and testing will be required to get a more accurate picture around Ryan’s process from here as far as treatment, recovery and rehabilitation,” said Mal Meninga, Titans head of performance and culture.
“Everyone at the Titans shared Ryan’s pain today. He is obviously a hugely popular part of this club, and earned even more respect with the positive way he applied himself to his recovery from
the original injury last year, without ever once getting down or feeling sorry for himself.
“We all desperately wanted Ryan to be back on the field and back to his best this season – a goal he had set himself, and deserved to achieve.
“This news is obviously devastating to Ryan and his family, but also to his friends and colleagues here at the Titans.”
Just a day earlier James was clocked as the fastest prop at a Titans training session, an impressive feat showing his dedication to return.
James told NRL.com he was feeling fit and confident with the progress of his knee.
“It is a good sign coming back from a knee injury knowing that the pace and strength is still there,” he said.
“I did a couple of agility tests (on Thursday). Having the confidence to be able to do it is one thing and not even thinking about it is another thing, and that is the stage I am at.
“I have gone past even thinking about the knee and I am just training. I feel back to normal and the knee is one hundred per cent.”
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Did it take three attempts? What about seven? What about thirteen? The Des Hasler era is up and running at the Gold Coast Titans…
The Titans won their first game of the season against the Warriors - and the home fans had more to be upset about than…
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked to have scored. However, a tiny bobble in the previous play-the-ball proved costly.
Dylan Walker nearly got away with it too! A successful Titans Captain's Challenge put them in prime position to score late in the first…
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earnt plenty of cheers from the home fans after this big shot on Gold Coast's Klese Haas in the first half.
Manly have snuck home against the Titans in a wild game on the Gold Coast, running out 34-30 winners on a night in which,…
