Broken thumb won't stop Bailey: Rogers - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Broken thumb won't stop Bailey: Rogers

By Laine Clark 30/08/2010 07:17:24 PM Comments (0)

Playing with a broken thumb wouldn't be a problem for Gold Coast "machine" Luke Bailey, according to Titans teammate Mat Rogers.

Bailey is one of the Titans' major injury concerns ahead of Friday night's NRL clash with Wests Tigers - a game which could lock up a home final.

The Titans enforcer is yet to receive a final verdict on his suspected fracture - an injury that usually means four to six weeks on the sidelines.

But Rogers did not need much convincing ahead of their crunch game at Skilled Park.

"He will play. He's a machine," Rogers said on Monday.

"He's one of the toughest blokes I have played with - he just keeps going.

"If there is a one per cent chance of him playing I will back him." Bailey will know more when he visits a specialist by Wednesday but has already fuelled speculation he may play with a custom guard.

"If we can make a guard I think I will play this week," Bailey told Gold Coast reporters.

"The doc seems to think I can't do any more damage." Bailey is part of a worrying injury list for the Titans as they line up against the in-form Wests Tigers.

Talisman Preston Campbell (hamstring) is another concern after not training with the main group on Monday.

"It's a different injury with Presto - you can't rush a hamstring," Rogers said.

"We want Presto firing at the business end. He will be 100 per cent I am sure for the first semi." But Rogers (hip flexor) and backrower Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) are expected to play.

Certainly Rogers was backing himself to run out on Friday night.

"Yeah, I will be playing. There won't be a doubt," he said.

He better be - the Skilled Park clash on Friday night will pay tribute to the outgoing dual international's glittering career.

"For me and my family it has been a long journey, it culminates with our final home game of the regular season this weekend," Rogers said.

"It's exciting. I am going to have a lot of family and friends who are travelling a long way to come along and watch the game - my sister and her husband are coming over from Perth.

"So hopefully we can put on a good show for them." The Titans received a reality check ahead of the clash due to last round's shock loss to the Sharks, snapping a five-game winning streak.

"I never like to say it was the loss we needed to have," Rogers said.

"I never want to lose when I play football.

"But it helps you reassess where you are at.

"I don't think we had any bad stuff creep into our game in the last five games.

"We just let ourselves down in little areas - it adds up.

"We just have to get back to what won us those five games." They better - they line up against a red-hot Wests Tigers who are showing distinct signs of their 2005 premiership-winning razzle dazzle.

"They are a great side. They can attack from anywhere," Rogers said.

"We are going to have to be ready."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news