AN ankle injury will sideline Wingham coach Mick Sullivan for Sunday's Group Three Rugby League preliminary semi-final against Wauchope at the Wingham Sporting Complex.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sullivan injured the ankle playing touch football a fortnight ago and he confirmed yesterday he's no chance of playing. Earlier in the week he said he'd need 'a miracle.'
"I'm doing plenty of rehab, but it's coming along slowly,'' Sullivan said.
He revealed he's no certainty to play in Wingham's game next weekend, whether it be in the major semi-final against minor premiers Macleay Valley at Kempsey on Sunday on in Saturday's minor semi against either Port City or Forster-Tuncurry. Winner of Sunday's game progresses to the major semi, with the loser off to the elimination match.
Sullivan's spot at halfback will go to the experienced Danny Russell, who will captain the side. Kynan Budd will be the five-eighth.
Sullivan returned to his junior club this year in the coaching role. After leaving Group Three in 1999 his career took him to the Northern Eagles, Cronulla, the English Super League and back to the NRL with Canterbury before he headed to Orange CYMS as a captain-coach. Sullivan spent nine years there, winning five premierships.
The Tigers haven't won a first grade premiership since 2003 but there was plenty of optimism in the Upper Manning when Sullivan signed that the drought could come to an end. This was heightened when, after losing the opening two games,
Wingham went on a seven match winning streak to move into the top two. Th run ended when beaten by Macleay at Wingham on June 29 and this also snuffed out the Tigers' minor premiership hopes.
Sullivan said he will get a further assessment on his ankle early next week with the hope of being right for wherever Wingham plays after Sunday.
"The pain's starting to go and the swelling's gone down,'' he said.
"But I'll wait to get the okay before I start running again.''
Related:
The Tigers have run into some late-season problems through injuries to Sullivan and centre Tim Bridge and the unavailability of forwards Tim Watson and Jake Mullen. However, Sullivan has backed the club's depth to get the job done on Sunday.
