NRL: Cancelled knee op a worry for Vatuvei

Manu Vatuvei says he's in good shape for the NRL season, despite not having a clean-out operation on his knee. Photo / Getty Images

His broken arm has healed, his hamstrings are fine but Warriors talisman Manu Vatuvei's dicky knees may still be a problem in 2011.

The Herald has learned Vatuvei cancelled planned off-season knee surgery because of a delay in receiving ACC approval.

Vatuvei was to have undergone a routine clean-up operation to remove cartilage on his right knee while he recovered from the broken arm he suffered against England in the opening game of last year's Four Nations tournament.

But the surgery was scrapped after a delay in receiving ACC funding meant the three-week recovery period would conflict with the winger's off-season training.

While the notion of the team's key player heading into an NRL season with a dodgy knee may alarm Warriors fans, Vatuvei described the knee as "sweet".

"I was going to get a clean-out because I had problems with the cartilage on my other [left] knee," Vatuvei said. "I was waiting for ACC approval but it took a bit too long. I was training and it felt sweet, so I kind of brushed it.

"Hopefully it stays like that. I haven't had any trouble with it since."

ACC did eventually approve the operation but by then Vatuvei had made up his mind to attempt to get through 2011 without it.

However, ACC regulations mean he must have the surgery within six months or reapply for approval. That could see Vatuvei opt for the operation mid-season, something he is keen to avoid after several injury-hit campaigns.

Although he played just one pre-season match, against Parramatta in Rotorua, during which he suffered a corked thigh, Vatuvei believes he is in great shape ahead of next week's season opener at Eden Park.

Dietary advice from trainer Ruben Wiki during Kiwis camp had helped him report for pre-season training at 112kg - 8kg lighter than at the same stage last season. The extra weight he carried previously had contributed to his injury problems, he said.

"Last year I had an injury and I couldn't do that much. I just sat on my bum, watched TV and kept on eating.

"I struggled a bit trying to lose [the weight]. When last season started I was around 115kg and I kind of struggled. I started losing the weight in the middle of the season but it was a bit too late."

There will be a bit less of The Beast on show this season, however, with Vatuvei currently tipping the scales at 109kg.

Wiki's advice that he change from eating little or no breakfast and a big lunch and dinner to having six mini meals throughout the day had been the key to his weight loss.

"I hated breakfast but I like breakfast now. I go hard out on cereal. Lunch is sandwiches."

Meanwhile, over 19,000 tickets have been sold for next week's season opener against the Eels at Eden Park. The decision to move the match to the traditional rugby venue was unpopular with many Warriors season ticket holders, prompting chief executive Wayne Scurrah to say he had "put his nuts on the line".

Scurrah was confident the break-even figure of 25,000 would be reached and hopeful the club record for a regular season game of around 32,000 - set in 1995 - would be eclipsed.

"We've noticed a sharp upturn in daily sales now that it is getting close," Scurrah said. "We're optimistic we will at least get 25,000 and could go close to our best ever crowd. That would be fantastic for the team and fantastic for the club."

Privately club officials are hoping the crowd will exceed the announced figure of 32,700 for the Blues versus Crusaders opening Super 15 rugby match of the season.