QUEANBEYAN Kangaroo Club general manager Leigh Kiely says the defending premiers have the depth to cover the loss of captain/coach Aaron Gorrell.
Gorrell will miss the remainder of the Kangaroos 2012 campaign after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Belconnen United Scholars last weekend.
Kiely, who originally recruited Gorrell to the Kangaroos in 2010, acknowledged losing the 31-year-old was a blow but said the club was well positioned to deal with the set-back.
“Personally I think he’s the best player in the competition so it is a loss but having said that we’ve forged a pretty good team around him over the last couple of years,” he said.
“I prefer not to dwell on injuries. They’re just part of the game and as a club, you’ve got to have enough depth to cover for them and that’s what we’ve tried to do.
“Aaron isn’t just a good player he’s also a very, very good coach and I’m confident he’s going to be able to lead the boys off the field to a very good year.”
Kiely added the club was hopeful the two-time premiership winning skipper would return to the field next year but said any such decision would rest entirely on Gorrell’s shoulders.
“He’s got to get himself right again first and how he feels…but I’m sure if he feels he can play again, he will,” Kiely said. “I don’t think he’ll just chuck it in if he’s got another year or two left in him.
“That’s entirely up to him though, we’re certainly not going to put any pressure on him. We’ll respect whatever decision he makes.”
The Kangaroos see Gorrell as a potential long-term coaching option with Kiely describing the former NRL representative as “one of the best coaches in bush footy.”
