Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 12:27 am  

... suspected Achilles severe tear or snap.

Could be a career killer. One of the worst injuries any player can suffer. It certainly finished Newlove.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 1:22 am  

I thought that the minute he went down. Such a shame. He's been a fantastic servant to the club throughout his time with us, no matter what people might say about him. It could well be his last game for Saints.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 7:41 am  

Mugwump wrote:

... suspected Achilles severe tear or snap.

Could be a career killer. One of the worst injuries any player can suffer. It certainly finished Newlove.

Different era now though. Achilles can be repaired. Didn't Raynor suffer an Achilles snap? Or was it Reardon? (Name begins with an R anyway!) But if it is the Achilles then we won't see Ade playing for us again this season, which is a great shame as he has been playing very well. And to be so badly injured in his testimonial year is particularly rough especially as he was trying to play himself into a new contract.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 7:49 am  

Its a shame, Ade has been playing awesome this year, I can't believe our poor luck with injuries this year.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 9:19 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Different era now though. Achilles can be repaired.

Repairing it isn't the problem. Retaining lateral stability and elasticity is. Especially in older players. If it's a bad tear I think Ade might be finished. I can't recall any player returning from such the same, although my memory isn't what it used to be.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 9:30 am  

Mugwump wrote:

... suspected Achilles severe tear or snap.

Could be a career killer. One of the worst injuries any player can suffer. It certainly finished Newlove.

I agree, it's prob one of the worst injuries a sportsman can get. It can be a career ending injury but I think he'll be back as they can fix just about anything these days. I doubt it will be in a saints shirt if he returns.

It finished newy as a attacking centre but newy then changed his game and started to be more of a defensive centre but in effect it finished him as a top quality centre.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 9:44 am  

Chris Bridge did the exact same injury against yourselves about 3 seasons ago.
It was the 2nd or 3rd game of the season and didn't come back until September.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 9:49 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Different era now though. Achilles can be repaired. Didn't Raynor suffer an Achilles snap? Or was it Reardon? (Name begins with an R anyway!)

Pat Richards. I think Reardon did it too though.

It wouldn't end his career with proper care in 2011, or even affect his ability for that matter. But it may cost him a new contract at Saints if one was going to be on the table.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 9:54 am  

Smurf wrote:

Pat Richards. I think Reardon did it too though.

It wouldn't end his career with proper care in 2011, or even affect his ability for that matter. But it may cost him a new contract at Saints if one was going to be on the table.

He's finished at saints now but I'm sure other teams will offer him a super league deal.

Re: Just when Gardner decides to pull his finger out ... : Sat May 28, 2011 10:28 am  

Alot will depend on who comes in and how they perform. There are not many top class wingers in SL and we are full on overseas quota.

So basically someone has to step up and take it off him. If no one impresses Royce, then the 2nd half of the season, then Royce may have seen enough quality from Gardner to consider a rolling 12 month contract to see if he can return in the same form.

It's far to early to be saying it's the end, before anyone else has shown their quality as a replacement.