RUGBY UNION:
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Pete Henderson is one of the few success stories to emerge from the Gunnedah Red Devils lengthening injury list this year.
The fly-half is just two games into his return for the Devils after rupturing ligaments in his leg earlier this season.
Henderson was at the forefront of a Gunnedah player attrition rate among the worse the club had endured in years.
Admittedly he’s still “a bit ginger” owing to his injury which put him out of action for about seven weeks. But in any event, he’s just thankful to be back playing again.
“It’s better than sitting on the sideline,” he said.
The injuries aren’t letting up either after Gunnedah lost another three players during last weekend’s 20-7 loss to Narrabri.
Among them is two-game Devils debutant, Joe Duffy, who was heralded by team-mates for his tenacity in his maiden first grade game last week, only to blow out with apparent shoulder ligament damage on Saturday.
Devils co-coach Tim Walsh said if he does miss this weekend’s match-up against Inverell, it will be their fourth openside flanker ruled out to injury this year in first grade alone.
He added the toll is worse still in the side’s backline this season.
“From our starting best seven backs, we’ve basically lost five to injury,” Walsh said.
“Experience-wise, we’re getting right to the end (of players available).”
Part of the blame could be attributed to the implementation of this year’s new two-tier draw, which pits the top-five competition teams against in a final all-out assault for finals contention in the second half of the season.
It was designed to create a more competitive CNRU competition however the unforeseen consequence is the growing toll which repeated high-intensity games are taking on its playing ranks.
“Sure, we’re doing it tough but we’re no exception,” Walsh said.
“All clubs in the top tier are in the same boat.
“That’s just the nature of the competition and everybody has to deal with it.”
Gunnedah first grade was left reeling on the weekend after incurring its second consecutive loss at home.
The Devils held much of the possession against Narrabri but couldn’t convert the “effort” into points.
“The effort was a lot better but the bounce of the ball didn’t go our way at all,” Walsh said.
“In saying that, we probably had enough ball to win 30 games of footy.”
At the moment the coach felt the side was missing that one player every team looks to when their chips are down.
“That player who can make something happen out of nothing,” he said.
“We’re probably lacking that bit of firepower.”
The Devils’ second consecutive loss at home, after a heavy defeat to Pirates the week earlier, hit hard on the team.
“They were pretty in the dumps about it,” he said.
“And I felt bad for the guys as well.
“It was a game we let slip through fingers.”
The good news they have their best opportunity to redeem themselves this weekend, when they travel away to face fifth-placed Inverell.
Problem is Walsh said, Inverell will also see it as their most winnable match against fourth-placed Gunnedah.
“I guess there’s something in it for both sides,” he said.