Canberra pair out for six weeks

Canberra pair Josh Dugan and Shaun Fensom are expected to miss at least six weeks each, after the Raiders received results from scans on the injured pair. 

The scans confirmed Dugan has a grade three AC Joint tear, which will keep him sidelined for six weeks, while Fensom will require surgery to repair a small tear in his left bicep.

Fensom will have surgery to repair the tear in his left bicep tomorrow morning and will be on the sidelines for between 6-8 weeks, after consultation with the surgeon revealed his injury was in a place which would require surgery but not an extended recovery period.

Dugan’s injury will not require surgery.

Fensom was disappointed by the news but remains positive that he could be back as soon as possible.

“There’s always the chance of injuries like this and you’ve got to stay positive do everything you can to overcome adversity like this,” he said. “I did it in a tackle and then I was getting tackled later on in the first half and I put my left arm down on the ground to support my body weight and I just felt it go.”

Fensom said the club had some good depth in the back row and it was an opportunity for someone to come in and fill his role while he was unavailable.

“We’ve got a fair bit of depth here and a lot of competition for spots as well as a lot of younger players coming through. I’ve got every bit of confidence that those players will step up and will fill the gaps.”

Trevor Thurling was the other Raider heading in for scans this afternoon after sustaining a knee injury in the first half yesterday, however the results won’t be available until tomorrow morning.

Thurling said his injured knee had improved overnight and was hopeful he could be back in the short term. 

“It seems to be alright this morning and I’m confident all the ligaments in my knee and intact,” said Thurling. “I know what it feels like to have a serious knee injury and I don’t think that that has happened this time. I’m very confident it’s not any ligament damage because I’ve had a couple of ligament tears there before.”