Re: Round 23 v Knights Lineups
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:09 am
Jeff Lima to play despite fracture
MELBOURNE Storm prop Jeff Lima will take his place in the side for the crucial clash with Newcastle, despite suffering a fractured eye socket in last week's win over North Queensland.
Lima was almost immediately ruled out when the injury was diagnosed and journeyman Ryan Tandy, who has been starring for Melbourne's feeder team, was poised to make his Storm debut.
But a positive discussion with his surgeon during the week, a lack of pain and a couple of completed training sessions have given Storm medical staff enough confidence to allow Lima to play.
Storm physio Mary Toomey said the fracture was small and that there was no risk of further damage.
"Often they do not even get diagnosed. You could have a slightly black eye, a bit of swelling and no other signs of anything.'' Toomey said.
''The general presumption is just that you have a black eye. I suspect it is not that uncommon for people to have this injury and play.
"And he has no pain at all and there is no risk. If there was some (risk) we wouldn't play him, but the surgeon was really happy and said he should be absolutely fine.
"The only reason you miss is if the fracture is unstable or producing other symptoms that suggest it would be unwise to play.
"But when two days post-injury the swelling is almost gone and there is no more significant bruising and you've got no double vision or restriction of your eye function, there is no reason not to play."
Lima's positive news marks a turnaround in fortune for Storm, which has recently had terrible luck in losing players to injury.
Representative winger Anthony Quinn was forced to have surgery on his neck on Friday and is out for the season. So, too, is powerful back-rower Sika Manu who broke the tibia and fibula in his leg a fortnight ago.
These came on top of hamstring issues for Ryan Hoffman and shoulder problems for captain Cameron Smith, which forced both to miss the clash Melbourne lost to Parramatta in Round 19.
But those two are back and firing now and, apart from Quinn, Manu and youngster Kevin Proctor, who broke his ankle early in the season, Storm's injury ward is empty heading towards the most important time of the season.
Melbourne is looking to secure a top-four berth and could finish as high as second if it can win its final four clashes.
They are the Knights away, Manly and the Sydney Roosters at home, then a trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors in Round 26.