theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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COREY Oates is on a selection collision course with Wayne Bennett after telling the Broncos super coach his days as a winger are over.
Oates’ bid to make a risky conversion from the backs to the forwards suffered a blow on Wednesday when the hulking winger failed to finish a pre-season training session at Purtell Park.
On the comeback trail from off-season groin surgery, Oates felt a twinge as he attempted to change direction during a skills session. He was heard telling Broncos physios “I’m in a bit of pain” before limping out of Purtell Park with an ice pack strapped to his right groin.
Oates has had a wretched year with injury and illness – spending time in hospital in July with a staph infection – but insists he isn’t hitting the panic button over his latest groin concern.
“I tried to do a bit of skills but it didn’t go too great,” Oates said.
“I’ve been doing straight-line running for the past three weeks. I tried to do a bit more but the change of direction stuff pushed me a bit more.
“I felt a bit of a pull so I decided to stop after that. It’s not serious, there was a bit of pain there but I’ll ice it up and take it easy for the next few days.”
There could be more pain on the horizon for Oates, who faces a philosophical clash with Bennett over where he is best suited at the Broncos.
Graded as a back-rower, Oates was initially blooded in first grade on the wing to help his injury-ravaged body cope with the rigours of NRL football.
But after 97 games and four full seasons on the flanks, including four Origin games in the Queensland No. 2 jumper, Oates has had enough.
He has told Bennett he wants to play in the forwards in 2018.
There is just one problem – Bennett is not convinced Oates, who has had 10 operations at age 23, can handle the punishment an NRL back-rower must absorb.
“I’ve spoken to Wayne about playing in the forwards next year. I’m done as a winger,” Oates said.
“I’ve told Wayne that I have made my mind up and that I want to play in the back row.
“Wayne probably wants to keep me on the wing but he says he will give me a chance. It’s up to me to change his mind.
“It’s not that I hate playing on the wing, but I honestly don’t believe it’s my position.
“I’ve had more problems on the wing with injuries than I had in the (forwards) ... so why not move back?”
Oates said Broncos medicos have assured him his groin rehabilitation is on track.
“I had my tendon cut as part of the operation, so I’m probably compensating in other areas,” he said.
“I need to strengthen my groin. There’s some scar tissue there and the physios said it would be part of getting back to 100 per cent.
“It (groin) is a delicate area to get surgery on. It’s not a massive injury ... it’s more a pain in the butt to get right.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/d94316739c08fcb0dca14197fcd092a6
Oates’ bid to make a risky conversion from the backs to the forwards suffered a blow on Wednesday when the hulking winger failed to finish a pre-season training session at Purtell Park.
On the comeback trail from off-season groin surgery, Oates felt a twinge as he attempted to change direction during a skills session. He was heard telling Broncos physios “I’m in a bit of pain” before limping out of Purtell Park with an ice pack strapped to his right groin.
Oates has had a wretched year with injury and illness – spending time in hospital in July with a staph infection – but insists he isn’t hitting the panic button over his latest groin concern.
“I tried to do a bit of skills but it didn’t go too great,” Oates said.
“I’ve been doing straight-line running for the past three weeks. I tried to do a bit more but the change of direction stuff pushed me a bit more.
“I felt a bit of a pull so I decided to stop after that. It’s not serious, there was a bit of pain there but I’ll ice it up and take it easy for the next few days.”
There could be more pain on the horizon for Oates, who faces a philosophical clash with Bennett over where he is best suited at the Broncos.
Graded as a back-rower, Oates was initially blooded in first grade on the wing to help his injury-ravaged body cope with the rigours of NRL football.
But after 97 games and four full seasons on the flanks, including four Origin games in the Queensland No. 2 jumper, Oates has had enough.
He has told Bennett he wants to play in the forwards in 2018.
There is just one problem – Bennett is not convinced Oates, who has had 10 operations at age 23, can handle the punishment an NRL back-rower must absorb.
“I’ve spoken to Wayne about playing in the forwards next year. I’m done as a winger,” Oates said.
“I’ve told Wayne that I have made my mind up and that I want to play in the back row.
“Wayne probably wants to keep me on the wing but he says he will give me a chance. It’s up to me to change his mind.
“It’s not that I hate playing on the wing, but I honestly don’t believe it’s my position.
“I’ve had more problems on the wing with injuries than I had in the (forwards) ... so why not move back?”
Oates said Broncos medicos have assured him his groin rehabilitation is on track.
“I had my tendon cut as part of the operation, so I’m probably compensating in other areas,” he said.
“I need to strengthen my groin. There’s some scar tissue there and the physios said it would be part of getting back to 100 per cent.
“It (groin) is a delicate area to get surgery on. It’s not a massive injury ... it’s more a pain in the butt to get right.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/d94316739c08fcb0dca14197fcd092a6
