Injury is expected to force Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons captain Ali Brigginshaw to miss the first QRL Women’s Premiership season.
Brigginshaw suffered a syndesmosis injury to her left leg on Sunday while playing in a trial match for Brothers Ipswich against Souths Logan Magpies.
The superstar half, speaking on Tuesday, was in good spirits, but was visibly disappointed to be missing the inaugural QRL Women’s Premiership season.
“I went in for a tackle and my foot got caught beneath me,” Brigginshaw said.
“She was a front rower, (and) she landed on the foot that was twisted.
“I went to hospital straight after and got cleared for a fracture, but saw the surgeon the next day and was told it was a syndesmosis tear and that I would need surgery on Thursday and surgery again in six weeks’ time.
“I am good (though), it is what it is. I am disappointed I will miss the QRLW season, being the first one I was really keen to be involved in it.
“That is why I played the first trial, to make sure we were ready as a team and now, I am going to have to break the news to the team that I am out for the whole season.”
However, Brigginshaw said she would not be a stranger at the club, and would instead focus her attention on her role as part of the coaching staff.
“I was assistant coach of Brothers Ipswich (last season), but now I will be more of a coach rather than a player,” Brigginshaw said.
“But I am looking forward to working with the girls ‘cause we have a heap of young girls and there’s heaps of young talent around, so I will try and work with them as much as I can.”
The two-time NRLW premiership-winning captain of Brisbane Broncos will also be working on her fitness and is pushing to return in time to lead the Maroons onto the field when State of Origin rolls around in June.
“I will be back running in April, the start of April,” Brigginshaw said.
“So, the next focus is Origin and I need to make sure I am fit.
“I am going to have a gym plan to do upper body, but I am non-weight bearing for six weeks, so I will just try and do as much as I can, upper body, and I will have six weeks before Origin to get fit.”
Match: Maroons v Sky Blues
Round 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Sky Blues
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The Jillaroos skipper will be kept busy in the meantime with her work with the Broncos – and luckily for her and her family – she is still able to drive, so can still do the school run.
“I am still going to work and being involved with the Brisbane Broncos Girls Academy, we are really busy in term one, so I guess that will keep me busy – there will be a lot of hopping around school,” Brigginshaw said.
“I can still work with the injury and I can still drive.
“I can still do school drop off, but I think I will have to tie the kids to my crutches, so they don’t run away.”
