Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur has confirmed second rower Ryan Matterson and winger Blake Ferguson will miss tomorrow night's clash with the Sea Eagles due to injury.
Here's what he said.
“Ryan Matterson has a small fracture in his thumb which he played with throughout the second half of the game last week," Coach Brad Arthur said.
"He was keen to play but with a long season ahead I decided to take a cautious approach so we are confident he will be available for Round 11.
“Blake had a strong game last week but he has had some fluid on his knee for the last 6 weeks which we wanted to address.
"Again, he was keen to continue playing for the team but with a short turnaround into next week, I wanted to give him some additional time to be ready for Thursday night’s game at Bankwest Stadium.
“Both George Jennings and Andrew Davey have been training really well and deserve their opportunity to contribute to the team tomorrow night.
"I am sure that they will follow the lead of other players this year who have come into to the team and honour the jersey and their teammates by playing their role," Arthur said.
TL;DR Matto small break in thumb. Fergo fluid on knee. Both should be fine for round 11. Basically just resting them this week.
Replies
So he wanted to rest Fergo? The Sea Eagles will grow an extra leg with this news.
I don't like showing the opposition no respect. We may rue this decision.
Frank I was watching a Foxtel panel the other week and they all mentioned that one reason they thought Robinson has overtaken Bellamy as top coach is that Robinson has shown he is willing to put team first regardless of what the player says. Examples were resting Cordner and Tedesco at various times already. Usually precautionary reasons.
Maybe this is one of the those things where it looks like genius if it works and disrespect if it doesn't? I do think that playing 18 weeks in a row followed by 3-4 of finals games is a different season that normal seasons with bye rounds and the SOO break. I guess it's also worth noting BA is not resting players but taking precautionary action to avoid more long term injury outs?
Yeah but I'd rest players as others returned from injury not when we are down 6 of our squad.
Frank at some point you have to trust the other guys in the squad to do the job. I think it's smart by the boss and a show of confidence in them. There's still up to 13-14 weeks of non stop footy so at some stage guys will need a week off is there's no mid season breaks
I agree just not all at once thanks.
Yes frank and as opposed to the fucking young guns I deal with and most of us do in our work ( and they are lazy fucktards) these guys know they have to shine
Haha Robinson team first.....
Let's see if he rests players now that they are 6 & 4.
Aren't you kind of making the point for resting, now? We are 2-3 wins clear of fourth so if precautionary resting is a good move now is the time
At least watching Fox is a change from watching pinko cuckold porn Daz, thats a start.
Yeah, I guess. Though Fox is the dogs name so I feel like you're violating your own "rule" about the "the line" and "the family"