Rugby league is a great sport to watch. Sadly, though, I'm not enjoying my time as a spectator.
A fractured fibula has ruled me out for between six to eight weeks, though I'm obviously hoping it will be closer to the former than the latter.
I suffered the injury against Celtic Crusaders a couple of weeks ago. I came off at half-time and I thought I just had a dead leg and had some massage to try and ease the problem but an X-ray the next day confirmed a fracture.
Dorn's view for the next few weeks
Generally, I've been pretty lucky (touch wood, please!) in my career with injuries. I think I've only missed four games during my time playing in England.
I'm also relieved that I've only suffered a fracture. It should heal fully fairly soon and there will no long-term issues. Hopefully I'll be back in plenty of time for the run-in to the regular season and Quins' play-off push.
Players do whinge from time-to-time about how tough training is, how hard it can be on your body, but watching on when you can't do anything about what's happening on the field is absolute torture
Luke Dorn
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The crutches have been a pain as well and moving around on them has been hard work on my hands. At least I've been able to do some cardio work and some weights.
But for the most part I've found myself in the unusual position of being a distant onlooker.
Players do whinge from time-to-time about how tough training is, how hard it can be on your body, but watching on when you can't do anything about what's happening on the field is absolute torture.
However, there are some advantages from the situation. I was talking to Chad Randall recently about how sitting on the sidelines has allowed me to see so much more of what goes on.
I've already started thinking about areas of my game where I can improve and it's been good to get a different perspective on things.
The role of spectator has also got me thinking about how Super League needs to make more of their chance to steal the spotlight in the summer.
Although the British and Irish Lions are obviously in action right now in South Africa, the 13-man code has a window of opportunity right now to push itself firmly to the forefront of national sport without any football or rugby union to compete with.
Perhaps it would help if the Magic Weekend concept were to be moved to later in the campaign, allowing those who follow other sports to come along and experience plenty of rugby league at a superb sporting venue like the Millennium Stadium or Murrayfield.
Rugby league will always have a dedicated following but it is at this stage of the year that there should be an attempt to draw in some casual fans.
Quins as a club do quite a bit to attract new followers - there's an Aussie Day later on in the summer to try and attract a few of my compatriots to come down and watch a Super League game.
When we played Manly at the start of the season we attracted a good crowd, albeit to face an NRL team. Talking to some Australians after that game they weren't really aware that there was a top-flight team in the capital.
While it is simply not possible to spread the word all across a city the size of London, we need to do everything we possibly can to promote this game of ours.
And finally...as seen on Sky Sports' Boots n All show my Quins team-mates Ben Kaye and Luke Gale did a spot of modelling recently for a fashion launch in London. The pair of them kept it all very quiet but I have now seen photos of their work on the catwalk. Personally, I'd have to say they picked some very ordinary models.
Comments (3)
David Phillips says...
Hi Luke Quins fan here - sorry to hear about the leg injury - hurry back as we'll need you in the Play-offs (fingers crossed) Good article and I agree regarding Magic Weekend. How about touting for some punters in the Aussie bars in Earls Court and leaflets in Walkabout bars. Get well soon David
Posted 13:32 23rd June 2009
Ricky Tee says...
Nice article Luke, hope you are back in time for the play-offs! As for spreading the word of rugby league, the work Brian Mac and Phil Jones do on a local level being involved with junior rugby in the South, is astounding. They are regular visitors to many Saturday junior and mini matches, showing enthusiasm and always willing to offer advice with an openness never seen in any other sport. Quins have held training sessions at several clubs and this always attracts great local interest. If the success of new clubs like Medway Dragons is a barometer of the development of the game, and could be replicated across the country, then the future looks bright. The game will grow as long as it continues to understand that the secret of growth is getting youngsters playing the sport, it creates and cements future die-hard fans. My only wish for Super League, would be an RL-style 13/13 version of cricket's 20/20, a four-team round robin game night, where each team plays each other for just 26 minutes, with revised four-tackle rules and 'powerplay' segments of reducing player numbers to create more try-scoring opportunities. It, like 20/20, would generate new fans who would be attracted to a shorter version of the greatest game.
Posted 23:24 19th June 2009
Ethan Callinan says...
Love reading your articles sorry about the break becuase your a really good player on and off the field mum said we can't come for the aussie day and we just can't wait for you to get back to aussie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN ETHAN C
Posted 23:13 18th June 2009