Star on ice till play-offs
By David Riccio | May 24, 2009 12:00am
Have your say!Add your comments or read what others are sayingEmail article ShareAdd to DiggAdd to del.icio.usPost to NewsVinePost to FacebookWhat are these? Printer friendly Text size+-Â Serious injury ... Manly officials do not expect Brett Stewart to return for at least four months. / The Daily Telegraph
MANLY fullback Brett Stewart is unlikely to return before this year's finals series, with his knee injury worse than first feared.
Due back in court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to two sexual assault charges, Stewart's horror year has been compounded by the injury sustained in round 6 against the Rabbitohs.
The initial prognosis after surgery was that Stewart would spend eight to 12 weeks on the sidelines.
But according to Stewart's agent, George Mimis, the brilliant No1 will be out for at least another four months. "He's still on crutches and while everybody is really happy with the progression, Brett is still at an early stage of rehabilitation,'' Mimis said.
"This is the same knee he had surgery on in 2007 and Des (Hasler) and the Manly medical team are determined to have him come back 100 per cent right. He'll only come back when he's ready. It's not about rushing it.''
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Manly officials are confident Stewart will return to his brilliant best. But further surgery to his right knee would cause complications.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer labelled Stewart's injury as "serious'' and reiterated the club's safety-first approach. "It's a serious injury that's got to be treated properly,'' Mayer said. "He's under no pressure from the club's perspective.''
The Sea Eagles have won just two of their six matches without Stewart this season. But wins over Brisbane and Parramatta in recent weeks have galvanised the premiers as they build momentum going into today's match against Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium.