Broncos veteran Corey Oates has opened up on being brutally dropped forward of final season’s finals collection, conceding it was the “hardest thing to ever cop.”
The 29-year-old is nevertheless at peace with the decision made by coach Kevin Walters and even declared it was the “right decision” as he prepares for his twelfth season within the NRL.
A horror run of accidents restricted Oates to simply 9 video games — the least since his debut season in 2013.
Oates broke his jaw in Round 2 and required surgical procedure, suffered a knee harm in his return sport after which had surgical procedure on it later within the season after aggravating the harm at coaching.
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Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Oates opened up on his “unlucky” season of accidents and why it was such a tricky capsule to swallow.
“It was really hard because I felt so good, it was the best I felt in pre-season for a long time,” he mentioned.
“It was probably the quickest I’d been in a long time, the fittest and strongest (too) and it was probably one of the best starts to the season I’ve ever had — even though it was one game. I just felt so confident in what I was going to do that year.
“A broken jaw — I get hit in the head so much harder and so much more often than what I copped in that game.
“The PCL was just so unlucky again — the timing and the impact. It was hard because doing three different injuries… the jaw surgery and then the knee I didn’t get surgery but all the stuff my knee had to go through, it just had enough. Everything just gave in that one training session when I had to go get it operated on.
“It was pretty full on the recoveries. Doing it three times is the hard part… it was actually getting mentally draining and it sort of took a toll towards the end of the year.”
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The nine-time Queensland Origin winger returned from knee surgical procedure in time to play the final two video games of the common season earlier than Walters dropped a variety bombshell for the finals — Jesse Arthars to switch Oates on the wing.
Oates — and his 201 video games value of NRL expertise — sat on the bench as 18th man whereas the Broncos comprehensively beat the Storm and Warriors to guide a spot within the grand remaining. Oates additionally watched on as his teammates suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss to the Panthers.
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Oates didn’t tiptoe across the truth it was “hard to cop” however after 4 months to replicate, he has no ill-feeling in the direction of Walters or Arthars. In truth, he is aware of it was the “right decision” and credited Arthars for incomes the promotion.
“What happened at the end of the year, it was definitely deserved for Jesse to have the spot. He played unreal and my body had just been through a hell of a year,” Oates conceded.
“It was hard when I got told — probably the hardest thing to ever cop.
“But when I look back — and even through it — the first week was really tough, I didn’t really think too much about why…
“When I was a young kid it was all about taking opportunities, when an older player got injured you had to take it because you don’t get many chances in this game. It’s a credit to Jesse that he took his opportunity and he played really good footy — I thought he was one of our best players in the finals series.
“While it’s very hard to cop and deal with, at the end of the day I feel like it was the right decision for the team.
“If you don’t be at peace with decisions like that through life you’re not going to move on. That’s what I’ve learnt over my years.”
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Oates is so at peace with the choice that he turned down curiosity from rival golf equipment — and took a pay lower — to re-sign on a one-year extension.
“It’s a lot to do with the players we have here but also family. I’m at that age now where I don’t want to pick my family up and move them away,” he mentioned.
“It was always going to be hard to leave the club but especially when you’ve got a little family that loves being here. I just want to be here for long enough for my young fella to remember.”
A match and firing Oates now has his sights set on the Broncos’ historic Round 1 conflict with the Roosters at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.
He has been coaching in his beloved left wing and is tipped to start out the season there after Herbie Farnworth’s departure pressured a backline reshuffle. Selwyn Cobbo will transfer to the centres and Arthars is predicted to play on the best wing, opening up Oates’ unique spot on the left.
“I’ve realised over the years that if you do it for yourself, there’s more to it,” Oates mentioned when requested about pushing for a beginning spot.
“I feel like if you’re doing it for someone else there’s no real goal because once you do that there’s nothing left to look forward to.
“I’m just doing it for myself, to prove to myself that I can still do it and keep up with all the young kids. To show that no matter the injuries or the age, as long as you put your mind to it, train hard and realise that it’s a full-time job you can stay up there and keep up with the young boys.
“While I feel really good I just want to keep it rolling and hopefully have a good year.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
