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SYDNEY Roosters superstar Sonny Bill Williams returned to the training field yesterday but remains only a 50-50 chance of lining up for the traditional Anzac Day match against the Dragons at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
While the annual meeting between two of Sydney's most powerful clubs is already on track to draw a crowd of more than 35,000, confirmation of Williams's availability would almost certainly swell that number beyond 40,000.
However, Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan was unwilling to give any such guarantees and reiterated the club would be taking no risks with the health of the star off-season recruit.
A certain starter for the Kiwis, Williams was forced to withdraw from Friday night's trans-Tasman Test match in Canberra after a chronic knee complaint flared up during the Roosters' round-five win over the Bulldogs.
And while the dual international appeared to move without too much discomfort during a light team run yesterday, Canavan said no one was prepared to make a commitment on Williams's return before seeing how the knee recovered from the hit-out.
"We are taking a pretty cautious approach, I guess you could say," Canavan said.
"Sonny was very keen to play in that Test for the Kiwis but there was just no way he could have done that. He actually aggravated the injury in the lead-up to the game against the Bulldogs but the medical staff were able to nurse him through that week."
Canavan said Roosters coach Trent Robinson had made it clear he would not put Williams on the field unless the skilful backrower was close to 100 per cent fit, but revealed the issue was one the medical staff would have to monitor throughout the season.
"We aren't going to put him out there if he isn't right to play - that isn't fair on Sonny or the team," Canavan said.
"The (knee) problem is something Sonny has been dealing with for quite a while. It is something we were aware of but it is fair to say that it is an issue we are going to have to manage for the rest of the season."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226625459446
While the annual meeting between two of Sydney's most powerful clubs is already on track to draw a crowd of more than 35,000, confirmation of Williams's availability would almost certainly swell that number beyond 40,000.
However, Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan was unwilling to give any such guarantees and reiterated the club would be taking no risks with the health of the star off-season recruit.
A certain starter for the Kiwis, Williams was forced to withdraw from Friday night's trans-Tasman Test match in Canberra after a chronic knee complaint flared up during the Roosters' round-five win over the Bulldogs.
And while the dual international appeared to move without too much discomfort during a light team run yesterday, Canavan said no one was prepared to make a commitment on Williams's return before seeing how the knee recovered from the hit-out.
"We are taking a pretty cautious approach, I guess you could say," Canavan said.
"Sonny was very keen to play in that Test for the Kiwis but there was just no way he could have done that. He actually aggravated the injury in the lead-up to the game against the Bulldogs but the medical staff were able to nurse him through that week."
Canavan said Roosters coach Trent Robinson had made it clear he would not put Williams on the field unless the skilful backrower was close to 100 per cent fit, but revealed the issue was one the medical staff would have to monitor throughout the season.
"We aren't going to put him out there if he isn't right to play - that isn't fair on Sonny or the team," Canavan said.
"The (knee) problem is something Sonny has been dealing with for quite a while. It is something we were aware of but it is fair to say that it is an issue we are going to have to manage for the rest of the season."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226625459446
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