St Helens Prop Walmsley to Miss Four Months After Knee Surgery, but Paasi’s Imminent Return Offers Boost
(Source: Sky Sports, May 10, 2023)
St Helens will be without their influential prop Alex Walmsley for up to 16 weeks after the player underwent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus this week. However, the Saints are set to receive a timely boost with the imminent return of Agnatius Paasi, who has been sidelined since last summer’s Challenge Cup semi-final defeat.
Head coach Paul Wellens acknowledged that while they could have opted to have Walmsley play through the pain, the decision was made to prioritize the player’s long-term health. “The here and now, if I was being selfish as a coach, we’d have pressed on with Al but we’d have made what’s a worsening knee a lot worse,” Wellens explained. “What’s best for him and his long-term health for his knee is to get surgery.”
Despite the significant layoff, Wellens expressed confidence that Walmsley will feature again for the club towards the latter stages of the Super League season, potentially around late August or early September. “We’re very confident we’ll see him again this year,” the coach stated.
In more positive news, Paasi has returned to full training and is expected to make his comeback in a reserve game later this month. Wellens praised the prop’s resilience, saying, “It’s been a really tough period in his career, he’s kept a smile on his face and his energy high.”
The return of Paasi will provide a timely boost for the Saints, who will look to maintain their consistency and position themselves well in the league table, with Walmsley’s return potentially proving pivotal in the final stages of the campaign.
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