NSW pay heavy toll for win with Wycliff Palu hand injury
NSW pay heavy toll for win
with Wycliff Palu hand injury
By Jon Geddes
March 07, 2009
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
New South Wales Waratahs may have paid a heavy price for Friday night's win over Queensland Reds, with Wallabies back-rower Wycliff Palu fearing he broke his hand during the rugged encounter.
"It's kind of looking that way, when I first did it, it wasn't moving right," Palu said as he left the ground with his hand strapped in an ice pack.
"I did it in a tackle and I hit something and I just felt it go."
The potential loss of Palu would take a lot of gloss off the Waratah's opening four Super 14 victories.
The back-rower was starting to return to his trademark dynamic form before he was hurt.
One powerful surge he made early in the first half laid the foundations for the Waratah's first try by prop Benn Robinson.
Palu was not happy with his own performance.
"I was pretty disappointed, I think I turned the ball over in crucial areas of the game," Palu said.
It was not a good night for Palu or his flatmate, hooker Tatafu Polata-Nau, who was KO'd in the second half and had to leave the field.
"I don't think he knows where he is, I think I'll have to take him home. He could end up in someone else's home," Palu said.
"But I think he should be OK, he's a pretty tough bloke."
Palu will today go for an X-ray to find out the extent of his injury.
But Palu was delighted to come away with a victory.
"It was a tough win and another four points so so far so good."
Man-of-the-match, Waratahs full-back Sam Norton-Knight, said the victory was a wake-up call for the team.
"We have that winning feeling, but that can't carry us all season," Norton-Knight said. "We have to start hitting our straps soon.
"We got out of gaol tonight, but there are just so many get-out-of-gaol-free cards."
The Waratah's No.15 was an extremely safe and reliable custodian at full-back with his kicking game a very positive part of his teams performance. But Norton-Knight admitted he was stunned to receive the best player award.
"I don't think anyone individually was very happy in the way they played," Norton-Knight said.
"To get the result is a huge effort".
