'Mental battle': NRL hopeful's devastating post after injury

Manly forward Andrew Davey has posted an emotional insight to his mental state after suffering a season-ending injury during round two of the NRL.

The luckless Sea Eagles recruit has struggled to find his footing in the league, having joined the club after managing only 10 games for Parramatta last season.

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Davey made his Sea Eagles debut off the bench in round one, before being promoted to the starting lineup in the backrow for last weekend's match against the Rabbitohs.

However that promotion was a bittersweet one for Davey, whose NRL career now hangs in the balance after rupturing his ACL.

The 29-year-old posted on Instagram on Wednesday describing the gutting feeling of being told his season was over.

“I’m not really sure how to feel just yet. I’m waiting for it all to sink in and become real. From one mental battle to another,” Davey wrote after learning the extent of his injury.

“I don’t think this is any different to anything else I’ve overcome to get here. This battle is just between me and my body, I don’t need to change anyone’s mind or prove anything more. Just like those hurdles, I’ll get over this one just as strong as I did the others.

“Everybody suffers a loss from time to time, it’s the person who can overcome a loss and make a success of themselves that’s really doing something special.

“One thing, I’m glad I had one of my best mates there to tell me it was going to be ok and that I wasn’t going to be alone

“Thank you to the (sic) those who have reached out and wished me well the past few days. Friends, family, fans and even people who I haven’t spoken to in a while. The positive support goes much further than you can think.”

Des Hasler eyes off Sea Eagles shake-up

Dylan Walker could lose Manly's No.1 jersey even before Tom Trbojevic returns as Des Hasler weighs up a backline reshuffle to kickstart their season.

Walker endured a difficult night in the wet in Manly's 26-12 loss to South Sydney on Saturday, coughing up the ball twice in just his fourth full game as an NRL fullback.

The Rabbitohs scored off one of those first-half errors, while Walker failed to stop an Adam Reynolds 40-20 just before halftime that led to another try.

Walker had been a surprise selection to fill Trbojevic's jersey to start the season, having barely trained there during the summer.

Trbojevic is not due back until round four at the earliest, and while Walker is a natural left centre Brad Parker was sound there on Saturday night.

"It was a tough day for any fullback. Obviously we have to keep looking at that," Hasler said.

"We might need to reshuffle some players.

"I thought Brad Parker was really good today (at left centre). We might have to look at options around that."

With AAP

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