Super League coach reveals outside back could face a year on the sidelines

Sadly injuries are a part of sport, especially a sport as physical as rugby league.

And today there has been news that Super League back Mitieli Vulikijapani could be out for a whole year.

This comes from Hull FC boss Tony Smith who revealed on BBC Radio Humberside that he is likely to get operated on which would mean a minimum nine months out if not a full 12 months.

“We’ll probably get him operated on, that’s probably what we’re thinking on at the moment,” Smith sadly was forced to reveal.

“Otherwise he is just going to get into this vicious circle of re-injuring it, re-injuring it an re-injuring it and missing numbers of weeks.

“The final decision it Miteli’s to make as to whether he has an operation and gets it fixed up and then resumes his career, or whether he rehabs.

“The medical advice is probably leaning towards getting the operation done and then having a batter chance at cracking on with his career.

“We’re not looking at a short operation here though, minimum nine months but we’re probably looking at twelve months.

“It’s a big call for him to make and he’ll make it soon.

“We’ve had numerous chats about it and there’s no pressure on him. This is a personal one that doesn’t only affect his career but it affects his lifestyle for the rest of his life.

“He’s not getting influenced by anything I say, he’s just got my support to do what he thinks is best for him and his family.”

Asked if he thinks he’ll have the operation, Smith said: “I’m not a fortune teller, I’m a rugby league coach. I don’t make predictions.”