TAREE West Public School’s Nav Willett’s dream of representing NSW PSSA in four sports this year has been shattered.
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Nav broke his leg playing in a trial game for the NSW PSSA rugby league team against Cronulla under 13s development squad. He was injured when going in to score his second try. A five-eighth, Nav also featured in two try assists as the NSW squad prepared for the Australian championships in Melbourne next month.
In the next few weeks Nav was also due to play with Hunter in trials for the NSW rugby, touch football and basketball teams. He was considered a strong chance of making the union and touch sides.
His dad, Brad said the realisation that his sporting dream is over hasn’t really really sunk in yet.
“Nav’s in a fair bit of pain at the moment,’’ Brad said.
“We go to the specialist next Monday – that’s when we’ll find out how long he’ll be in the cast. I don’t think it will hit him until then.’’
Brad estimates it will be at least 10 to 12 weeks before Nav is back playing sport.
“At this stage he’ll have eight weeks in the cast, then he’ll have to start physio, so it’s going to be a while.’’
Nav had the opportunity to go one better than NSW State of Origin captain, Boyd Cordner, who made the State league, rugby and touch sides when he was attending Taree St Joseph’s Primary School. But Boyd didn’t play basketball, although Nav said when receiving the Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week award earlier this year he wasn’t too confident about his chances of making the NSW basketball team.
“I don’t really play much basketball,’’ he explained.
Nav also plays for Taree Panthers under 13s in the Group Three Junior Rugby League competition. The injury will rule him out of the team’s semi-final campaign, adding to his frustration.
However, there’s some consolation. He will get to travel to Melbourne with his NSW team-mates for the national league championships starting on August 5.
“He’ll get to watch, but won’t be able to play – that’ll hurt him as much as the injury,’’ Brad said with a wry smile.