Frizell to miss NRL All-Stars match
St George-Illawarra second rower Tyson Frizell has been ruled out of the NRL World All-Star fixture due to undergoing back surgery in the off-season.
Frizell underwent surgery to correct a lumbar disc bulge just before Christmas, and the Dragons have revealed he has undergone his rehabilitation period this week.
The Welsh international is believed to be on track in terms of recovery, but the club have said that it will be at least twelve weeks before the 24 year-old can engage in full training.
Dragons Head of Medical and Performance, Tony Ayoub, has admitted that surgery was necessary for Frizell to play to his full potential in 2016.
“Unfortunately, Tyson has suffered a few issues with his lumbar disk bulge prior to the Christmas break, which had previously sidelined him during stages of the 2015 season,” Ayoub told the Dragons’ official website.
“Luckily we did do the surgery as they found three fragments from a disk in his spine which had to come out and has had instant relief because of it.”
Ayoub says that Frizell has been making great strides on his road back to full fitness, but admits that his return to the team may be in the early rounds of the NRL season.
“He will most probably be right for either Round 2 or Round 3,” he said.
“Tyson has had over two weeks off to recover since the surgery and has showed great range during his excercises in the pool. We’re hoping that over the next four-to-six weeks he will continue to improve but as far as skill sna docntact sessions are concerned, it is probably twelve weeks before he is ready.”
For Frizell himself, the forward has admitted his frustration at being on the sidelines with injury, but believes the time out injured will be worthwile when he is back to full fitness in the next few months.
“I am obviously disappointed about the surgery but it needed to be done now to benefit me in the long term,” he said.
“My main focus now is doing whatever is required of me to help get my body right and back to full strength so that I can represent the club on the field this season.”