Dale Missed Date With Dragons But Vows To Be Back For Broncos

Gold Coast centre Dale Copley will miss this weekend’s clash with the Dragons after injuring his ankle in last weekend’s loss to the Rabbitohs, but the luckless Titan concedes the news could have been worse.

Copley hobbled off the field just after halftime at Bankwest Stadium, and scans today confirmed the skillful centre has suffered a Grade 1 syndesmosis injury, ruling him out of the Titans’ return to Suncorp Stadium against St George Illawarra on Saturday.

Copley has set his sights on a return against his former club Brisbane in a fortnight, and admits he was relieved the news was not worse given the reputation syndesmosis injuries have as a long-term problem.

“The scan was good news. It is a Grade 1 syndesmosis injury – so probably as good as I could have hoped for,” Copley said. “We are probably looking at two weeks out – that would be a good outcome.

“I will get back just before or just after the Broncos game. I will either just make that game or just miss it.

“It is as low-grade as it can go. Anything more serious than that, and you are looking at four to six weeks. It is a pretty good result considering.

“I did fear it was going to be a lot longer than what it was, so I was pretty rapt with the result from the scan today.”

While he is hoping to only miss the one game, any time off the paddock is a blow for Copley who has not only shown great courage to fight back time and again from injury setbacks, but has shown good form in the centres for the Titans this season.

“I have been happy with my form,” he said. “I think it is has certainly helped having a bit of stability there with the players around me.

“Having Ash (Taylor) and Brian (Kelly) there for the games has given us time to build a bit of momentum during the week at training, and then playing multiple games together helps so much when it comes to building combinations there.

“It is pretty disappointing to miss any footy, but particularly after we had the big (COVID-19) break. But I am pretty happy that it will be pretty limited games missed.”