Crazy injury hack that explains why Joey Walton is a popular new Waratahs captain
By Iain Payten
One of the stories that best sums up Joey Walton happened last year when the Waratahs centre took a spot in an already crowded corner of injured players.
Walton had plantar fasciitis, a painful and tough-to-shake condition affecting the tissue on the bottom of a foot. But when he heard stories of athletes who had got back quicker by jumping off a table and deliberately rupturing the plantar fascia – including former AFL star Robert Harvey – Walton began planning.
To make sure of it, he figured he’d need a weighted backpack and a table to jump off, and began making plans.
Calm heads prevailed (the procedure is not recommended), the jump never happened and Walton returned to action via normal rehab. But the fact he’d been prepared to go to such lengths to help his injury-hit team did not go unnoticed.
Fast-forward a year, and the level of respect and admiration for Walton at the Waratahs was finally exposed by the 24-year-old’s appointment as captain of the side to meet the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night.
Joey Walton of the Waratahs celebrates a try. Credit: Getty Images
Who wins this match?
Hello and welcome
G’day rugby fans.
Welcome to our live coverage of today’s Super Rugby Pacific game between the Hurricanes and Waratahs in Wellington.
Interesting game this. On paper, the Hurricanes should get the job done, but some promising glimpses from the Waratahs this season suggests they might be able to pull something out of the bag.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is back from injury playing his first Super Rugby game on New Zealand soil.
Time to make a name for yourself, J(S.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Waratahs. Credit: Getty Images
