Massive shame for him and the team. Doesn't really matter how it happened (shower vs corso sprint), it's happened.
Fact it is the other hammy they say is good. Hope that has merit in Physio-language, I would have thought that it shows both his Hammys have a pretty low threshold to cop injuries. However i'm not a doctor/physio. I hope they can find a way to sort it out for him as imagine this is his career - wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Good chance to test the depth we have in the position - interesting hearing Harper and Garrick mentioned as the first 2 options, rather than Funa who covered last year and showed improvement. Interested in people's thoughts on that (yet to read the thread in entirety tho, probably some input on that already)
We have some pretty tough games to start out, if we can find a way to win that would be encouraging to say the least, and fill the team with confidence like 2019, where we won games we were expected to lose, without both Turbo AND DCE.
These early games we would be underdogs in most of them even WITH Turbo - Roosters away, Rabbits home, Dragons away, Panthers home, Warriors 'away' - Many are picking Roosters/Rabbits/Penrith for top 4 as is, we historically struggle against St George (and Dragons generally have strong season starts and late-season fades), and Warriors could be bloody anything - AFB will certainly be out to prove something. All of these I saw as super-tough, and there are rarely any easy games now as is.
And for those who are getting all huff-puff about it and suggesting we dock his pay/unload him/sack Des for investing in damaged goods - shame on you. You would ruin the club for your spiteful impatience.
Who would ever want to play for us again if we showed that form? Good players attract other good players, and I can't think of any player that would dislike the 'urbos. Other clubs have dealt with worse returns on their investments (recently, Jack Bird at Broncos for example who was on similar coin to Turbo and is nowhere near the game breaker). Doesn't make it easy to swallow, but if past seasons have taught us anything it is that having a backup plan for injury is part of todays game - and I think the signings we have made exemplify this.
I thought at the time re-signing the 'urbos long-term was a shrewd move, and I still do. Same with the Fainus, despite the immediate imposition of a missing 9. These guys have the potential to build a dynasty at the club again - assuming we can actually get them on the field together!