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Broken leg
sidelines
Ropati
SYDNEY: Paramatta five-eighth
Keith Blackett was cleared yester
day of a broken leg, but Eels' centre
Iva Ropati will be sidelined for at
least six weeks after breaking his
fibula in Friday night's 12-0 rugby
league win over Cronulla.
The win was only the Eels second
of the season, but proved a costly
one, with the side losing New Zca
lander Ropati, who had only played
three matches for the club after
transferring from British club
Feathenstone.
Ropati left the field in the 45th
minute after a tackle by Cronulla
prop Robbie Kearns, and a buggy
drove Blackett off three minutes
later after a tackle by Sharks' substi
tute Andrew Pierce.
Eels' rugby-league chief execut
ive Denis Fitzgerald said yesterday
that Ropati was in Baulkham Hills
hospital after x-rays confirmed he
had a broken leg.
"He's broken his lower leg, the
fibula," Fitzgerald said.
"We are hoping that he might be
back in about six weeks."
The news was more positive for
Blackett, examinations clearing
him of any breaks.
Fitzgerald said Blackett had re
ceived deep muscle bruising, but
should be back in action in a couple
of weeks.
Hancock still
in contention
BRISBANE: Queensland rugby
league winger Michael Hancock is
being treated for a viral infection
that stopped him taking part in two
key training sessions yesterday.
But team management has not
called for a shadow player, indicat
ing he is expected to recover in time
for tomorrow night's opening
match with NSW in Sydney.
St George captain Mark Coyne
trained in Hancock's position at
yesterday's two training sessions.
More than 4000 watched the
heavy two-hour morning session at
Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.
The Maroons were not doing
cartwheels with the news that NSW
forward Bradley Clyde had with
drawn from tomorrow night's game
with a foot injury.
Queensland captain Mai Menin
ga had predicted Clyde's withdraw
al on Friday and the Maroons have
enormous respect for Clyde's re
placement Brad MacKay, who col
lected the Clive Churchill medal for
the best player on the field in last
year's grand final and was one of
the stars of the 1990 Kangaroo tour
of England and France.
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