1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalks ed B. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:16,707 Speaker 2: One of the most eagerly awaited rugby comebacks in recent 4 00:00:16,787 --> 00:00:19,987 Speaker 2: times will play out this afternoon in Palmeston North. Now 5 00:00:20,027 --> 00:00:22,667 Speaker 2: in the middle, you'll have finally got something. 6 00:00:22,707 --> 00:00:23,867 Speaker 1: On the rampage. 7 00:00:24,187 --> 00:00:25,147 Speaker 2: It's Cam Roiger. 8 00:00:25,627 --> 00:00:26,307 Speaker 3: It's fine. 9 00:00:26,787 --> 00:00:31,467 Speaker 2: Take in get roll the line hatter that Hesford cat 10 00:00:31,547 --> 00:00:36,387 Speaker 2: Roy Guard Cameroy Guards return to rugby is all but complete, 11 00:00:36,547 --> 00:00:40,547 Speaker 2: six months after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured pateeller 12 00:00:40,707 --> 00:00:43,267 Speaker 2: tendon that he suffered in Super Rugby at the back 13 00:00:43,347 --> 00:00:46,147 Speaker 2: end of March. The All Blacks and Hurricanes halfback will 14 00:00:46,147 --> 00:00:49,307 Speaker 2: turn out for Counties Manico in this afternoon's NPC match 15 00:00:49,667 --> 00:00:53,267 Speaker 2: against Munawood two in Parmiston, North Camero Rey Guards with 16 00:00:53,387 --> 00:00:57,307 Speaker 2: us Cam. Great to have you almost back out there. 17 00:00:57,707 --> 00:00:59,347 Speaker 2: How do you reflect, first of all, on the last 18 00:00:59,347 --> 00:01:01,067 Speaker 2: six months in general terms. 19 00:01:01,507 --> 00:01:03,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess it's been a bit of a roller coaster, 20 00:01:03,947 --> 00:01:05,747 Speaker 3: thinking right back to the injury, you know, how it's 21 00:01:05,747 --> 00:01:09,147 Speaker 3: sort of happened, and how I guess how quickly the 22 00:01:09,187 --> 00:01:12,507 Speaker 3: operation happened, and just the whole process of really of rehab. 23 00:01:12,547 --> 00:01:16,027 Speaker 3: It's been Yeah, quite a journey, but I feel, you know, 24 00:01:16,027 --> 00:01:19,387 Speaker 3: I'm fit, ready to go, and yeah, just really excited 25 00:01:19,387 --> 00:01:21,987 Speaker 3: to get back out there. Yeah, like you said in 26 00:01:22,027 --> 00:01:24,507 Speaker 3: the intro, it's been just over six months since my operation, 27 00:01:24,747 --> 00:01:27,427 Speaker 3: so yeah, I'm really excited to get back out there. 28 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:30,787 Speaker 2: What was the most challenging part of the last six months. 29 00:01:31,547 --> 00:01:35,187 Speaker 3: I think the early doors of the rehab. So for 30 00:01:35,227 --> 00:01:36,987 Speaker 3: those that don't know, I had a why that they 31 00:01:36,987 --> 00:01:39,467 Speaker 3: put in there in the operation to keep the teller 32 00:01:39,867 --> 00:01:42,987 Speaker 3: from moving so I could so I could heal pretty much, 33 00:01:43,027 --> 00:01:44,587 Speaker 3: and I was in a straight league brace for over 34 00:01:44,627 --> 00:01:48,587 Speaker 3: a month, So yeah, I guess trying to move get 35 00:01:48,587 --> 00:01:50,867 Speaker 3: thefflection and extension back in my knee when I was 36 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:54,707 Speaker 3: when I was trying to rehab at the early stages 37 00:01:54,827 --> 00:01:59,827 Speaker 3: was definitely a challenge. And I guess, yeah, just with 38 00:01:59,947 --> 00:02:01,827 Speaker 3: that fiction and extension when it sort of felt like 39 00:02:01,867 --> 00:02:04,987 Speaker 3: glass because I hadn't moved it for so long, And yeah, 40 00:02:04,987 --> 00:02:08,907 Speaker 3: everything with that wire was a challenge. But the work 41 00:02:08,907 --> 00:02:11,227 Speaker 3: that we did put in in the early doors of 42 00:02:11,227 --> 00:02:15,787 Speaker 3: it the rehab was very beneficial to actually making the 43 00:02:15,827 --> 00:02:18,347 Speaker 3: milestone of getting back to playing. 44 00:02:19,147 --> 00:02:21,387 Speaker 2: Did you find it hard to be patient and to 45 00:02:21,427 --> 00:02:23,827 Speaker 2: follow the plan without wanting to jump ahead. 46 00:02:25,347 --> 00:02:28,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess so it was was my credit to 47 00:02:28,787 --> 00:02:31,787 Speaker 3: the Hurricane medical team, Like we set a plan right 48 00:02:31,827 --> 00:02:34,507 Speaker 3: at the start, we I guess, we broke it down 49 00:02:34,507 --> 00:02:38,187 Speaker 3: into certain steps and talked about how I guess if 50 00:02:38,227 --> 00:02:40,547 Speaker 3: we do take our time with the early doors of 51 00:02:40,547 --> 00:02:42,587 Speaker 3: the process, that will sort of benefit us in the 52 00:02:42,627 --> 00:02:44,987 Speaker 3: back end. And either a little bit I guess and 53 00:02:45,027 --> 00:02:47,667 Speaker 3: deny to start with, but you know, I had full 54 00:02:47,707 --> 00:02:49,707 Speaker 3: faith in them and what they sort of believed in. 55 00:02:49,827 --> 00:02:52,227 Speaker 3: So I was happy to trust them, and I guess 56 00:02:52,267 --> 00:02:55,107 Speaker 3: I was pretty lucky that, you know, they had done 57 00:02:55,147 --> 00:02:57,987 Speaker 3: some stuff with TJ with his arkillage injury and saw 58 00:02:58,507 --> 00:03:01,747 Speaker 3: what challenges he faced. So being able to, I guess 59 00:03:01,827 --> 00:03:05,347 Speaker 3: learn from his experience before I've had mine helped in 60 00:03:05,387 --> 00:03:07,787 Speaker 3: that case. Wasn't I was doing what I needed to do, 61 00:03:07,827 --> 00:03:09,467 Speaker 3: but I wasn't pushing the boat out and sort of 62 00:03:09,907 --> 00:03:13,907 Speaker 3: risking either re rupturing it or you know, causing other 63 00:03:13,947 --> 00:03:16,747 Speaker 3: sit backs. So yeah, just you know, credit to them, 64 00:03:16,787 --> 00:03:19,227 Speaker 3: because the plan that they set and the work that 65 00:03:19,267 --> 00:03:21,907 Speaker 3: I've done to match that has made it, I guess 66 00:03:21,907 --> 00:03:22,547 Speaker 3: it all worth while. 67 00:03:23,067 --> 00:03:27,347 Speaker 2: How did you mentally navigate the more challenging times in 68 00:03:27,387 --> 00:03:28,587 Speaker 2: the whole process. 69 00:03:29,267 --> 00:03:31,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's not just looking too far ahead 70 00:03:31,507 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 3: and you know, start trying not to think about the 71 00:03:34,467 --> 00:03:36,067 Speaker 3: what if I don't come back and what if I'm 72 00:03:36,067 --> 00:03:37,947 Speaker 3: not you know, running as fast as I can and 73 00:03:37,947 --> 00:03:40,947 Speaker 3: all that sort of stuff, because yeah, just thing focused 74 00:03:40,987 --> 00:03:42,787 Speaker 3: on the process. And like I said, there are lots 75 00:03:42,787 --> 00:03:45,067 Speaker 3: of little milestones that I was trying to take off, 76 00:03:45,147 --> 00:03:48,227 Speaker 3: so trying to get my fliction back, which was a challenge, 77 00:03:48,267 --> 00:03:52,507 Speaker 3: but you know, every little win keep be really positive. 78 00:03:52,547 --> 00:03:55,027 Speaker 3: And that's where them you know that, Like I said, 79 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:58,507 Speaker 3: the medical team, Nicole and Garrett, they were great because 80 00:03:58,627 --> 00:04:00,947 Speaker 3: I guess we're sort of celebrating those and I've doing 81 00:04:01,027 --> 00:04:05,547 Speaker 3: lots of stuff with the Kerry Evans and David Gray, 82 00:04:05,587 --> 00:04:08,107 Speaker 3: who are the mindset it coaches that they're all black 83 00:04:08,187 --> 00:04:10,547 Speaker 3: and hurricanes, and they were great for I guess framing 84 00:04:10,627 --> 00:04:14,547 Speaker 3: up my mind mindset to tackling this challenge of rehab. 85 00:04:14,587 --> 00:04:17,507 Speaker 3: And yeah, I think we did a good job. And 86 00:04:17,627 --> 00:04:19,707 Speaker 3: I guess I didn't really because I was super busy 87 00:04:19,707 --> 00:04:21,547 Speaker 3: with the rehab. But don't have too much time to 88 00:04:21,587 --> 00:04:23,067 Speaker 3: sort of feel sorry for myself to be dead. 89 00:04:23,227 --> 00:04:25,347 Speaker 2: It's good to hear and you documented the whole thing 90 00:04:25,387 --> 00:04:28,387 Speaker 2: on Instagram as well for a bunch of followers. How 91 00:04:28,467 --> 00:04:30,107 Speaker 2: much did that help keep you on track that you 92 00:04:30,147 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 2: were almost I don't know, there was a bunch of 93 00:04:32,027 --> 00:04:33,907 Speaker 2: people who just wanted to know where you were in 94 00:04:33,907 --> 00:04:34,667 Speaker 2: your journey. 95 00:04:35,147 --> 00:04:37,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right. I guess that all sort of started 96 00:04:37,547 --> 00:04:39,907 Speaker 3: because I was getting so many messages about when of 97 00:04:39,987 --> 00:04:42,507 Speaker 3: my back and you know, how does the rehab and 98 00:04:42,507 --> 00:04:43,947 Speaker 3: stuff going. So I thought I'd just chuck it up 99 00:04:43,947 --> 00:04:45,267 Speaker 3: so the enough people want to see it and they 100 00:04:45,267 --> 00:04:47,907 Speaker 3: can hear it up from the source rather than spiculating. 101 00:04:47,987 --> 00:04:51,187 Speaker 3: So yeah, it was good to just, I guess, keep 102 00:04:51,267 --> 00:04:53,627 Speaker 3: those people in the loop that did care. And I 103 00:04:53,667 --> 00:04:56,187 Speaker 3: can feel the sort of excitement has been building over 104 00:04:56,187 --> 00:04:59,707 Speaker 3: the past couple of weeks as they sort of knew 105 00:04:59,707 --> 00:05:01,507 Speaker 3: that I was sort of getting pretty close to playing, 106 00:05:01,547 --> 00:05:03,587 Speaker 3: and you know, it was awesome to be back in 107 00:05:03,707 --> 00:05:06,827 Speaker 3: with the All Black last week, mixed up them and 108 00:05:06,907 --> 00:05:10,587 Speaker 3: sort of getting used to that high intensity training and 109 00:05:10,827 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 3: help prep for this week. So yeah, it's been pretty 110 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:15,267 Speaker 3: cool that, I guess the support that I've had throughout 111 00:05:15,307 --> 00:05:18,267 Speaker 3: the journey, and I guess now that I'm sort of 112 00:05:18,947 --> 00:05:21,827 Speaker 3: well that's playing, it's yeah, it's pretty exciting, and yeah, 113 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 3: it's pretty frank much that I've had. 114 00:05:23,507 --> 00:05:25,987 Speaker 2: Yep, So here we are. You're about to head back 115 00:05:25,987 --> 00:05:28,587 Speaker 2: out there. Is there any part of you that feels 116 00:05:28,587 --> 00:05:31,907 Speaker 2: a bit of trepidation as you look forward to your 117 00:05:31,907 --> 00:05:32,587 Speaker 2: first game back? 118 00:05:33,467 --> 00:05:37,987 Speaker 3: Oh No, I don't think so. I think we've just 119 00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:40,427 Speaker 3: put in like a lot of work to get to 120 00:05:40,467 --> 00:05:43,667 Speaker 3: this point, so there's no time to sort of worry about, 121 00:05:43,707 --> 00:05:45,547 Speaker 3: you know, the lot of the nerves and all that 122 00:05:45,587 --> 00:05:46,867 Speaker 3: sort of stuff. You know, I'm not going to let 123 00:05:46,907 --> 00:05:49,187 Speaker 3: my nerves get in the way of everything that I've 124 00:05:49,227 --> 00:05:51,027 Speaker 3: done for the past six months to sort of get 125 00:05:51,067 --> 00:05:53,707 Speaker 3: me here. So yeah, I'm you know, I feel like 126 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:57,147 Speaker 3: I'm ready. We've had some really good training weeks and 127 00:05:57,187 --> 00:05:59,147 Speaker 3: the build up and done some really good stuff to 128 00:05:59,187 --> 00:06:01,667 Speaker 3: make sure that I am ready. So I'm just going 129 00:06:01,667 --> 00:06:03,107 Speaker 3: to make sure I go there and I enjoy myself. 130 00:06:03,147 --> 00:06:06,707 Speaker 3: And yeah, once I'm out there, I just put my 131 00:06:06,707 --> 00:06:08,427 Speaker 3: head down and I'm sure it has sort of come 132 00:06:08,427 --> 00:06:10,387 Speaker 3: back to me pretty quickly, hopefully, And once I get 133 00:06:10,387 --> 00:06:12,627 Speaker 3: that first tattle and first carry out of the way, 134 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:13,747 Speaker 3: I think I think I'll be away. 135 00:06:13,867 --> 00:06:16,467 Speaker 2: Yeah, what about match footness, Cam, do you what's your 136 00:06:16,507 --> 00:06:19,067 Speaker 2: assessment around how long it'll take your body to get 137 00:06:19,147 --> 00:06:21,227 Speaker 2: used to actually playing games of rugby again. 138 00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:24,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's always something that you sort of 139 00:06:25,547 --> 00:06:27,227 Speaker 3: you forget about a little bit, you know. No matter 140 00:06:27,227 --> 00:06:30,067 Speaker 3: how much you know field running and all that sort 141 00:06:30,067 --> 00:06:32,707 Speaker 3: of stuff you do, it's nothing quite the same as 142 00:06:33,067 --> 00:06:35,907 Speaker 3: a game, just because of the adrenaline the contact, which 143 00:06:36,387 --> 00:06:38,307 Speaker 3: I guess to tease you a lot more than you realize. 144 00:06:39,027 --> 00:06:41,147 Speaker 3: But yeah, we've tried to do as much as we 145 00:06:41,187 --> 00:06:43,787 Speaker 3: can and training and stuff to sort of replicate that. 146 00:06:43,947 --> 00:06:48,307 Speaker 3: So which, yeah, I guess that's just time, but it 147 00:06:48,427 --> 00:06:51,347 Speaker 3: might take a couple of games, but hopefully we have 148 00:06:51,347 --> 00:06:53,067 Speaker 3: a good result on the weekend and might get another 149 00:06:53,107 --> 00:06:58,307 Speaker 3: game for account is in the quarterfinals. So yeah, just 150 00:06:58,347 --> 00:07:00,467 Speaker 3: trying to I guess I just feel it, you know. 151 00:07:00,947 --> 00:07:03,667 Speaker 3: I know I'll wake up store on tomorrow, which is 152 00:07:03,707 --> 00:07:07,107 Speaker 3: all part of it. Yeah, it's just it'll be just 153 00:07:07,147 --> 00:07:09,107 Speaker 3: great to be back out there and hopefully I can 154 00:07:09,147 --> 00:07:11,347 Speaker 3: sort of get out there. And I know that in 155 00:07:11,427 --> 00:07:13,027 Speaker 3: terms of my numbers and stuff and how I've been 156 00:07:13,027 --> 00:07:15,067 Speaker 3: training unfit as I was before I was injured. 157 00:07:15,187 --> 00:07:18,507 Speaker 2: So yeah, that'll just take to outstanding And you mentioned 158 00:07:18,547 --> 00:07:21,347 Speaker 2: before doing some work with Carrie Evans in the mindset 159 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:24,067 Speaker 2: and space. How much contact have you had with the 160 00:07:24,107 --> 00:07:26,587 Speaker 2: All Blacks coaches in the last six months. 161 00:07:27,547 --> 00:07:29,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I've had a little bit. To be fair, 162 00:07:29,787 --> 00:07:33,747 Speaker 3: They've been really good in terms of keeping contact and 163 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:36,267 Speaker 3: especially like their medical team. I've had too much to 164 00:07:36,307 --> 00:07:39,867 Speaker 3: do with them, but they've been great with checking in 165 00:07:39,987 --> 00:07:41,827 Speaker 3: and sort of seeing how my progress is going. And 166 00:07:41,867 --> 00:07:44,387 Speaker 3: I've been floating around, especially at the early stage of 167 00:07:44,427 --> 00:07:47,947 Speaker 3: my rehead seeing them and had a really good, I guess, 168 00:07:48,147 --> 00:07:52,307 Speaker 3: some really good connection with Scott Hanson, who's obviously the 169 00:07:52,307 --> 00:07:53,867 Speaker 3: attack coach and does a lot of stuff with the 170 00:07:54,147 --> 00:07:56,507 Speaker 3: other halfbacks, so it's been really good that he's sort 171 00:07:56,507 --> 00:07:58,707 Speaker 3: of been doing some stuff with me to make sure 172 00:07:58,707 --> 00:08:01,907 Speaker 3: that I'm still keeping my rugby brain on and not 173 00:08:01,987 --> 00:08:05,027 Speaker 3: just switching off completely and trying to get better even 174 00:08:05,067 --> 00:08:07,147 Speaker 3: though that I'm not playing. So yeah, last week, like 175 00:08:07,147 --> 00:08:09,827 Speaker 3: I said, it was really great to be fully fully 176 00:08:09,827 --> 00:08:12,347 Speaker 3: involved with the team and being in all those meetings 177 00:08:12,427 --> 00:08:14,507 Speaker 3: and all that sort of stuff, which is awesome just 178 00:08:14,547 --> 00:08:16,627 Speaker 3: to sort of get back in the frame of just 179 00:08:16,627 --> 00:08:19,907 Speaker 3: thinking about rugby. And yeah, it's just been really good 180 00:08:19,947 --> 00:08:21,907 Speaker 3: for us. I guess the preparation going to this week. 181 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:24,947 Speaker 2: How did you go watching rugby, watching the Hurricanes play, 182 00:08:24,987 --> 00:08:29,307 Speaker 2: watching the All Blacks play? How was that? Yeah? 183 00:08:29,307 --> 00:08:31,907 Speaker 3: It was obviously challenging With the Hurricanes. I was really 184 00:08:31,987 --> 00:08:33,867 Speaker 3: enjoying the season that we're having. You know, We've had 185 00:08:33,907 --> 00:08:36,587 Speaker 3: a great team, great teammates, and we play an awesome 186 00:08:36,587 --> 00:08:38,547 Speaker 3: brand of footy that suits the way I like to play. 187 00:08:38,627 --> 00:08:41,827 Speaker 3: So yeah, obviously when I was injured, it was pretty 188 00:08:41,827 --> 00:08:45,107 Speaker 3: hard to watch initially, but you know, we still had 189 00:08:45,107 --> 00:08:47,787 Speaker 3: an awesome year. Probably didn't well, we obviously didn't get 190 00:08:47,787 --> 00:08:51,267 Speaker 3: the result they were after, but you know, I'm had 191 00:08:51,347 --> 00:08:53,507 Speaker 3: full faith that we'll be able to, you know, back 192 00:08:53,627 --> 00:08:55,947 Speaker 3: up some of the performances and build on the year. 193 00:08:56,067 --> 00:08:59,307 Speaker 3: Just been so I guess, like I say, it's just 194 00:08:59,347 --> 00:09:02,027 Speaker 3: sport and everyone you know, has their injuries and all 195 00:09:02,067 --> 00:09:04,107 Speaker 3: that sort of stuff. So just I guess it's one 196 00:09:04,107 --> 00:09:05,627 Speaker 3: of those things, which it is what it is. But 197 00:09:06,667 --> 00:09:08,147 Speaker 3: certain thing with the All Blacks, you know, like I 198 00:09:08,187 --> 00:09:09,827 Speaker 3: feel like if I was available, I'd be able to 199 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:13,107 Speaker 3: add some value where I can, But I haven't had 200 00:09:13,147 --> 00:09:14,667 Speaker 3: too much time to sort as well, and I quite 201 00:09:14,747 --> 00:09:17,307 Speaker 3: enjoyed being a fan actually, Like there's always a team 202 00:09:17,307 --> 00:09:19,227 Speaker 3: that I locked up to and love watching. So being 203 00:09:19,227 --> 00:09:22,787 Speaker 3: out here augus do that again from a different prospective, 204 00:09:22,787 --> 00:09:25,347 Speaker 3: it has been great and yeah, if I do get an 205 00:09:25,347 --> 00:09:28,627 Speaker 3: opportunity to be back in the mix for the Northern tour, 206 00:09:28,667 --> 00:09:30,027 Speaker 3: it'll get pretty excited. 207 00:09:30,467 --> 00:09:33,547 Speaker 2: Well, congrats on nailing your rehab cam almost of the day. 208 00:09:34,147 --> 00:09:37,707 Speaker 2: It's it's a real demonstration of following the process mate, 209 00:09:37,867 --> 00:09:40,027 Speaker 2: congrats on that all the best of this afternoon. Thanks 210 00:09:40,027 --> 00:09:43,067 Speaker 2: for taking the time for a chat. Awesome, thank you, 211 00:09:43,107 --> 00:09:46,467 Speaker 2: Cam Cam Roy guard there about to return for Candies 212 00:09:46,467 --> 00:09:49,547 Speaker 2: Manico against Manawatu this afternoon in Palmerston or five pass 213 00:09:49,547 --> 00:09:51,507 Speaker 2: to that game kicks off. He'll come off the bench, 214 00:09:51,547 --> 00:09:54,347 Speaker 2: as will Dalton Papaale in that game. A bunch of 215 00:09:54,387 --> 00:09:56,667 Speaker 2: all Blacks have been released back to their provinces for 216 00:09:56,987 --> 00:09:58,667 Speaker 2: games this weekend. 217 00:09:59,427 --> 00:10:02,587 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 218 00:10:02,707 --> 00:10:05,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk z'd be weekends from midday or follow 219 00:10:05,987 --> 00:10:07,627 Speaker 1: the poddcast on iHeartRadio.