Special Feature: Katz is back and raring to go
?The specialists told me it would be 12-months so I figured they really meant only six but I guess they were right after all.?
It was a frustrating time for Katz who states: ?I tried to help out as much as possible on the sidelines but it?s not the same as playing and that?s what you want to always be doing so I haven?t really played since the Grand Final in 2009 and I expect I?ll be a little rusty but I?m looking forward to the season opener against Blacktown and the games don?t get much tougher first time up than to meet the reigning Champions.?
He also admits the past 12-months were a pretty draining experience having to go through rehab but he looks forward to re-igniting his partnership with Jimmy Bakis down the right although it will be a little while before he is completely reassured his knee will hold up: ?With an injury like this it will always take time to put your full trust into things but I?m looking forward to getting things working on the field with Jimmy (Bakis) and the rest of the team and although in pre-season we have let in a couple of soft goals to lose matches we are confident in our style of play and the players around us so if we do the right things and approach the matches with the right attitude we feel we can do very well this season.?
Kat also puts faith in new additions to the side especially up front where he reckons this season they have a front runner who can lead the line in much the same way Brad Boardman did and he feels is something they have been lacking in the last couple of years: ? Michael Svircevic has slotted in well and is looking sharp so who knows where we can go this year but it?s not about one man as the team has to perform and if we do that to the best of our abilities we should be OK.
?Our slow start last year cost us dearly as we missed out on the Final?s by probably just one match so we are very focussed on trying not to let that happen again this year.?
Katz is back and so is the humour so dismiss the knee-man at your peril!
-By Micky Brock
