ORANGE CYMS will be without premiership winning utility Robbie Mortimer after he limped off Carrington Park on Sunday with what is expected to be confirmed as a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
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Mortimer lined up in the centres for the defending premiers in the blockbuster clash with Bathurst Panthers, performing well before going down mid-way through the second half.
Play was stopped as trainers assisted Mortimer from the field, and initial scans reveal the outside back has a fracture to the patellas in his left knee.
The results of a MRI scan could also reveal Mortimer has a ruptured ACL.
“And also, they’re worried about my PC, which will be surgery,” Mortimer said.
“Unfortunate, but that's footy.”
A clearly philosophical Mortimer was remaining upbeat through the injury with CYMS in a stunning position depth wise in 2016.
Even with Mortimer out, the club still has Jerome Harrison to welcome back into the side – he missed the Panthers clash – at centre while James Wynne, Sam Hill and the versatile Ryan Griffin are all back on deck for Mick Sullivan’s side, currently clear by two points on top of the premiership ladder.
“I had trouble with me knees all year and Mick constantly was urging me to get them right, as soon as I went down I tried to get straight back up but no good, I knew it was a little more serious then first thought,” Mortimer said.
“It's hard to cop but I've been very lucky with injuries in previous years, this year wasn't meant to be and it’s come at a time where the whole club is really in good shape for the semis.”
With four rounds of the regular season remaining, CYMS sit in the box seat to secure the minor premiership.
After claiming their first minor premiership in 22 years after finishing the 2010 regular season in pole position, the club has finished on top of the competition only one other time – the 2015 season - during its run of four premierships in six seasons.
It’s the second season in a row CYMS will be without a Mortimer for the run into the semi-finals, after Robbie’s brother Tim suffered a similar injury to his ACL in 2015.
“The most disappointing thing is the chance of missing a grand final alongside Tim as he was injured last year for it,” he added.
“Maybe third year we'll get lucky.”
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
