Hunslet stalwart Jimmy Watson set for surgery on 'strange' knee injury

Hunslet's long-serving full-back Jimmy Watson will undergo surgery today on knee damage which has been liked to a car crash injury.
By Peter Smith
Published 11th May 2021, 16:45 BST
Jimmy Watson. Picture by Hunslet RLFC.Jimmy Watson. Picture by Hunslet RLFC.
Jimmy Watson. Picture by Hunslet RLFC.

The former Leeds Rhinos academy player, who joined Hunslet in 2013, was badly missed during the Parksiders’ 28-16 loss to Workington Town in Betfred League One last Sunday.

Coach Gary Thornton revealed: “It is a strange one, the doctor said he has never seen anything like it on a rugby field.

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“He has got a lump at the back of his knee, like something has broken away from the muscle, which is bleeding and if he got a bang on it it could be quite a bad injury.

Hunslet coach Gary Thornton, third from left, at Sunday's game against Workington. Picture by Tony Johnson.Hunslet coach Gary Thornton, third from left, at Sunday's game against Workington. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Hunslet coach Gary Thornton, third from left, at Sunday's game against Workington. Picture by Tony Johnson.

“He [the surgeon] is going to remove it on Wednesday and see how he goes from there.

“It happened last week and his ankle, foot and hamstring area - almost his full leg - is really badly bruised.

“The doctor said he has seen that type of injury in car crashes and that sort of thing, but never in a rugby player.

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“Hopefully if he gets that removed and they can stop the inside bleeding it might only be a two-, three-, four-week recovery, but the doctor says he has to make sure it heals properly before he starts contact training.”

Thornton admitted Watson is a “big loss for us”.

He added: “He has been fantastic in training, he has trained the house down.

“His worth showed on Sunday when he wasn’t playing.

“He has been an integral part of Hunslet for a lot of years.”

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Related topics:Gary ThorntonJimmy WatsonHunsletLeeds Rhinos