For all the wrong reasons, Kade Dykes’ 21st birthday is one he will never forget.
The milestone man started the day like most others, with a regulation session at a pre-season training camp in Wollongong. The plan was to complete his club commitments, head for a quick beach swim and then have dinner with friends and family to mark the occasion.
However, just before 10am on Tuesday, without a defender laying a hand on him, Dykes’ day – and season – changed irrevocably.
“I was having a run, went to step off my left foot and I think I put my foot out too wide,” Dykes said.
“When I went to take off on my left, I could just feel it go. I’ve heard people say in the past that when you do your ACL, it hurts for a little period and then the pain goes away. After about 20 seconds of that initial pain and shock, the pain went away and I knew it wasn’t good.
“It definitely wasn’t the birthday present I had in mind.”
There is never a good time to suffer a season-ending injury, but the timing for both player and club was particularly cruel. Not only did it happen on his 21st birthday, it was just 24 hours after the Sharks released fullback fallback Lachlan Miller to Newcastle.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon was so impressed with what he had seen from Dykes in his two NRL appearances last year that Miller was reluctantly released in order for the former rugby sevens Olympian to take up a long-term deal as Kalyn Ponga’s fullback replacement in the Hunter.
“Obviously it wasn’t ideal timing; Lachie left the day before and then this happened,” Dykes said.
“Not much anyone can do about it. Lachie gets the opportunity now to play first grade with the Knights after having a pretty good year last year. He deserves every bit of it, I am so happy for him.
“It’s obviously been a tough couple of days, but now that I’ve got my head around it we can plan for what’s next. I feel a lot better.”
Kade Dykes.Credit:Getty
Dykes will be in good hands during his rehabilitation. His father, former Sharks playmaker Adam Dykes, enjoyed a successful career after overcoming a raft of knee issues.
“I’m not sure if he’s done an ACL, but he’s had a meniscus and patella, had all of those problems,” Dykes said.
“I’ve been speaking to him a bit each day. He’s been checking in with me and giving me tips.
“He’s been great for me, he always wants to help. I’m living at home so I will be around the house getting as much help from him as I can.”
There has been plenty of support from elsewhere. A slew of players, particularly those who have come back from knee injuries, have reached out to the rookie custodian.
“It’s actually been a crazy couple of days; I’ve had so many people messaging me,” he said.
“A fair few from the Sharks here, who have been in a similar boat. Especially Wado [Wade Graham], Connor Tracy, Toby Rudolf and Cam McInnes – those four guys have been through the same thing and been with me a bit.
“They are checking in on me and making sure I’m all good, if I need a hand with anything.
“It definitely wasn’t the birthday present I had in mind.”
Kade Dykes
“[Dolphins playmaker] Sean O’Sullivan messaged me, Fa’amanu Brown from the Bulldogs, Jayden Brailey from the Knights.”
Dykes is planning to study during his sabbatical in a bid to use his rehabilitation time productively.
“I’m looking at nine months minimum,” he said. “The medical staff are saying that I will be 100 per cent ready to go for the start of pre-season this year.
“That’s a positive to take out of it, I won’t be chewing into next year’s prep.
“I’m feeling a bit better now that everything has settled and I know the plan forward. I’m looking forward to getting the op done and ripping into my rehab and getting back on the field.”
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