Bradford Bulls injury crisis: Diskin and Kopczak face lengthy lay-offs (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Bradford Bulls injury crisis: Matt Diskin and Craig Kopczak face lengthy lay-offs
7:27pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport
Joint skipper Matt Diskin dislocated a shoulder against the Rhinos
Bradford forwards Matt Diskin and Craig Kopczak may not play again this year after picking up serious injuries in the derby defeat by Leeds.
The Bulls are still coming to terms with the loss of centre Adrian Purtell, who suffered a heart attack after Sunday’s 37-22 defeat at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, and their problems worsened today when coach Mick Potter revealed the extent of a second injury crisis.
In addition to hooker Matt Diskin, who dislocated an shoulder, and prop Craig Kopczak, who sustained ankle ligament damage, Bradford have lost winger Elliott Kear with a broken wrist and centre Chev Walker with a broken rib.
Diskin, who will lose an ever-present record this season, and Kopczak, who missed five earlier this year with a broken finger, have been ruled out for at least three months.
Kopczak will miss Wales’ international against France in Wrexham on June 16.
“Kopczak’s ankle got caught after he was rolled back over by a couple of players and he needs an ankle operation,” Potter said.
“Matt Diskin got flipped over and landed on his shoulder and he’ll need an operation as well.
“It’s unfortunate to lose two of our top-liners for at least three months.
“We were saying a week ago that we were starting to get players back and we lose five in one match so we’re back to where we started.
“It’s the nature of a contact sport but it’s happening to us just a little too much at the moment.
“It puts a bit of a dent in us but we’ll fill the void.”
Potter is likely to bring in Adam O’Brien, Danny Addy, Tom Olbison and Ian Sibbit for Bradford’s next match, at home to Castleford on Monday night.
Comments(10)
poppastratton
says...
8:18pm Wed 30 May 12
Potter for the sack
says...
9:01pm Wed 30 May 12
King Michael
says...
9:09pm Wed 30 May 12
Potter for the sack wrote:The same as his old one, broken wrist.
Is Kear's a new injury?
nosher
says...
9:30pm Wed 30 May 12
manc-bull
says...
11:22pm Wed 30 May 12
raisemeup
says...
12:51am Thu 31 May 12
poppastratton wrote:Couldn't agree more, if we count the number of cruciate/anterior and other ligament injuries, it is very apparent where the blame lies?
Surely there needs to be a long hard look, by the RFL, at current tackling techniques. Ironic when we consider we had a player banned for what was deemed to be a dangerous tackle. I also feel the Rugby Gods are not looking down on us favourably; exactly what have we done to offend them? I cannot remember a time in the last few seasons when we had a full squad of match fit players.
4 man tackles and the desire to turn players on their backs creates the situation where the lower limbs are going to be twisted in unnatural positions. This puts intolerable strain on ligaments that no amount of training can cope with.
Stretch them far and hard enough and they will come away from the bone.
The ARL have recognised this problem, why haven't we??
Plus the officials should protect players more in the tackles.
All too often it's the last player who comes in late that creates the damage, as was the case with Koppy.
Tricky Dicky
says...
3:43am Thu 31 May 12
I think Mr Diskin may have played his last game for the club and Mr Purtell will need to take a serious look at his future in the game too. Both Kear and Kopcak will get over their injuries but a stop-start career never gains momentum - just look towards Jamie Langley, a wunderkind if ever there was one but a career blighted by injury.
I was very optimistic of a top eight finish but it is now going to be a tough battle. However, nil desperandum.
The only way is up !!!!
says...
9:17am Thu 31 May 12
raisemeup
says...
12:48am Sat 2 Jun 12
The only way is up !!!! wrote:Nope I didn't:
definatly think disco has played his last game, there were rumors he was going to retire n take a assistant coach position so that looks even more likley now, more so due to having O'brian. not good for kear looks like he was rushed back before fully ready which we allways seem to do. still think top 8 is possible just wish the club would give us an update on the money situation ?????????
Not at all my style, old fruit!
IDLEBULL says...
8:04pm Wed 30 May 12