Narrandera livewire Zac Williams has been dealt a massive blow ahead of what promised to be another massive season with Greater Western Sydney.
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Williams ruptured his Achilles tendon at Giants training on Friday, a potentially devastating injury which could sideline him for the majority of the 2018 season.
Williams, 23 and entering his sixth season, had well and truly established himself as one of GWS’ best defenders after being drafted at pick 55 in the 2012 Rookie Draft.
His absence will be a huge blow for a club which has established itself as a premiership contender in recent years, reaching the preliminary final in the past two seasons.
Williams is scheduled to meet with surgeons on Monday to determine his road to recovery, but Achilles injuries rarely come with an easy comeback trail.
Giants head of fitness David Joyce told the club's website it was undoubtedly a frustrating moment in Williams’ young career.
“This is a really unfortunate injury for Zac who had been training really well throughout the pre-season so far,” Joyce said.
“Zac will meet with a specialist early next week to determine the extent of the injury which will allow us to then map out the best possible management pathway.”
The injury continues a highly unfortunate run of poor health for the Giants, a side which has adopted the Riverina as its own.
It leaves them without their two best rebounding half-backs from the previous two seasons following the loss of Western Australian ace Nathan Wilson during the trade period.
The pair’s ability to manufacture scoring chances from defence had provided the side with a tremendous boost in recent years.
Also contributing to GWS’ nightmare run with injuries has been fellow defenders Adam Kennedy and Matt Buntine working to return from knee reconstructions and Toby Greene suffering a broken toe.