Brett Seymour a Shark Cronulla can't do without
September 19th 2008 09:17
Life was looking beautiful for Sharks five-eighth Brett Seymour. He helped steer Cronulla to a very convincing finals win over the Canberra Raiders, and with a little help from the Warriors, his side is now one game away from the Grand Final.
As the likes of Melbourne, Brisbane, New Zealand and Sydney fight it out this week to determine who keeps their premiership dream alive, Seymour's Sharks went up to Kiama on the advice of coach Ricky Stuart.
Stuart wanted his players to bond with one another and keep hold of the momentum the men from the shire have generated these past few weeks.
Unfortunately for Seymour, the week off has proven his downfall.
Seymour injured his knee during a training mishap with Sharks forward Danny Nutley. Team-mates thought it was just a cork or a sprained ankle.
But judging by Seymour's luck in recent seasons, he himself knew the injury was far worse.
In the end, the former Broncos half did not need any confirmation from doctors, surgeons or club coaches to help Seymour realise his tremendous 2008 year was over.
In the most bizarre circumstances, Seymour bids farewell to his best ever season in the NRL. A year in which he stamped his authority in a Sharks side that wanted nothing to do with him in the early stages of 2007.
Since then, Seymour has transformed himself into an integral part of a Sharks arsenal that has averaged over 29 points per game since round 24 this year.
He has gone from discounted Broncos first grader to Sharks saviour in the space of two seasons. Seasons in which Seymour thought his NRL career was over before it even began to flourish.
Since then, Seymour has won a two year extension on his contract that will keep him in the Shire until 2010.
However, the fairy dust has run out for the former St Patrick's Mackay junior.
Seymour once again has to contend with finishing a rugby league season on the sidelines.
But while his injuries had very little influence on his teams in years gone by, the same cannot be said for the Sharks.
Coach Stuart made it clear that Cronulla would suffer in Seymour's absence.
These comments came from the Australian national coach who wanted to scrap Seymour off his Sharks squad half way through 2007.
A year later and Stuart now wonders what his sharks must do to overcome the significant loss of one of League's true comeback kids.
In the long term, Stuart hopes this will be the last injury Seymour suffers in his blossoming career.
With the departure of Cronulla half Brett Kimmorley to the Bulldogs next season, Seymour will no doubt take over the mantle as the Sharks main man in attack.
But judging from previous misdemeanours gone by, Seymour, 23, has the necessary confidence now to bounce back from another unlucky break.
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