WINGHAM expect to have match winning five-eighth Kurt Lewis back on the field towards the end of the second round of the Group Three Rugby League season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lewis had an arthroscope on his injured knee this week. Tigers coach Jamie Moorehead is confident Lewis will be fit to return in six weeks.
Lewis tore the meniscus in the knee and also bruised the bone. There were fears he could have been sidelined for the season. He revealed this is the first major injury he’s had since coming into first grade as a teenager.
“I’ve missed more games under suspension than I have with injury,’’ he said.
Lewis initially damaged the knee in the off-season. He started in the opening game of the year against Forster-Tuncurry but lasted just a few minutes before limping off after aggravating the injury.
The former North Coast representative was on crutches when the Tigers played their next game against Port Macquarie at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
At the time he said he wasn’t sure when or if he would right to play again.
This is his second season with the Tigers, joining the club last year as a captain-coach. He took Wingham to the preliminary final in 2016 – Wingham’s best result in more than a decade.
Moorehead – who is in his debut season as a head coach in first grade – said it was a relief to know his chief playmaker would be available again this campaign.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet. He had to stay in (hospital) overnight and usually with an arthroscope it’s walk in-walk out,’’ Moorehead said.
“But this is good news, we know he’ll be back.
“It’s better for this to happen now then with six weeks to go in the season. Kurt should be back a few games out from the semi-finals so he’ll be able to get a bit of match fitness.’’
The Tigers won two of their three opening matches but were beaten last start by Wauchope at Wauchope.
Wingham meets Taree City on Saturday at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
Moorehead confirmed he’ll stick with 17-year-old Taj Wood at five-eighth until Lewis returns.
Wood made his first grade debut on April 30, two days before he turned 17. He represented East Coast Dolphins under 18s this year in the NSW Country Championships.
“Taj has been playing good football,’’ Moorehead said.
“The rest of the first grade side has rallied behind him and I’m confident he’ll do the job for us until Kurt comes back.’’
Meanwhile selectors have finalised the North Coast women’s league tag side to play in the opening round of the Country Championships on May 20. See page 22 for details.
