Simon Finnigan’s Giants season is over after knee injury

Sep 10 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SIMON FINNIGAN’S season is over.

The 27-year-old back-row forward suffered wrist ligament damage during the Giants’ 42-16 Super League win at Celtic Crusaders and is the third member of the senior Huddersfield squad to be ruled out of the club’s play-off campaign in the past three weeks.

He joins Danny Kirmond and Kevin Brown (both knee injuries) on the sidelines, with Finnigan now waiting to learn if he requires surgery to repair the damage.

Also sitting out this Sunday’s final home game of the regular Super League season against Wigan Warriors is Jamahl Lolesi, who is again not being risked with a stress fracture of the foot but is expected to feature in the play-offs.

But ready to return after missing the Crusaders clash are inspirational captain Brett Hodgson, who was rested, and prop Darrell Griffin, whose partner gave birth to a girl over the weekend.

That’s clearly good news, but head coach Nathan Brown admits Finnigan’s injury has come as a big disappointment.

“Finny has been doing it tough since he joined us, and this is just the latest blow for him,” revealed Brown.

“He’s already due to have an operation on his neck and now he may also need wrist surgery.

“And I think this sums up the way things have gone for him.

“Because he was playing for Ireland in last autumn’s World Cup, he hasn’t had a real break and that’s really taken its toll on his body.