Sharks captain Fawkes speaks of injury horror

Fawkes suffered the injury in a Jim Brown Cup clash against local rivals Mirfield Stags in which he ruptured all four cruciate ligaments as well as dislocating his ankle.

The Shaw Cross captain knew the damage was serious as soon as it occurred and recalled: “I looked down at my leg and I knew I had dislocated it straight away. It looked all disfigured and I knew what had happened. My knee had come out of the joint and all of my ligaments with it.

“I didn’t panic, in order to stop myself going into shock. All I did was concentrate on my breathing and wait for the ambulance to arrive and thankfully it was there pretty quick.”

Fawkes underwent surgery last week to restore three of the ligaments and is now awaiting work on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

He has an appointment with a medical consultant to begin restoring his ACL back to normal.

There is a long period of absence ahead for Fawkes once the work on the ACL is completed.

The Sharks’ veteran is preparing himself for a possible six to nine months of rehab to help restore all cruciate ligaments to full strength.

Fawkes is unsure whether he will ever return to action but is determined to do all he can to get back on the pitch.

He added: “The doctor told me that it looked like someone had taken a hand grenade and rolled it inside my knee. I’m desperate to start doing something to help myself but at the moment I know I need to just sit down and be patient.”

“The surgeon has told me I won’t be back but that is probably a stock answer for a lot of surgeons.

“I know that I am going to do all I can to rehab my knee to the most mobile and strongest I can possibly do it. I am keen to do whatever rehab I can do.

“I don’t want to end with an injury, I don’t want to end like that.”

Fawkes is aware that his recovery will be slow but praised the work of Sharks physio Rob Stephenson.

Fawkes said: “Rob is super keen to get rehab started to get me back well. It is great to have such a fantastic bloke at the club he was brilliant on the night, as was Benny.”

Shaw Cross club secretary Benny Richardson is one of many at the club who are desperate for Fawkes to play again.

He said: “Fawkesy epitomises what we hold dear at Shaw Cross Sharks, he is a true leader and a great friend to all. He is red, amber and black to the core and I long to see him grace the fields at Shaw Cross again.”

All associated with Shaw Cross Sharks are grateful that Fawkes has started his recovery and all hope to see him back as soon as possible.