Michael Ware

Journalist

COURIER-MAIL: Reds Show Their Ware [Joining the Queensland Reds in Argentina]

By ANDREW DAWSON

Michael Ware's head was in a spin when he tumbled from his motorcycle and was seriously injured in early 1990. Yesterday Ware's life was again in a spin, this time in celebration of his call to reinforce the 28-man Queensland rugby union touring party in Argentina.

The GPS hooker, 24, will leave today for South America after answering an SOS from Queensland coach John Connolly to replace first-choice hookers Michael Foley (ribs) and Brendan Cannon (concussion).

An associate to Mr Justice Tony Fitzgerald, Ware has dropped everything at work to grab a chance, which first emerged in 1990. That season Connolly had gone to a club match between GPS and University at St Lucia to check the form of Anthony Herbert and Isei Siganiyavi, but came away raving about Ware.

Ware was bound for the state reserves bench in the match against Auckland when, one week later, he was thrown from his bike in a collision with a car.

Ware sustained head and back injuries, and a broken and dislocated shoulder, while bruising of his brain affected his memory and concentration. As a result, he did not play again until 1992.

"I came back in 1992 but my shoulder kept dislocating," Ware said. "I saw Dr Peter Myers and he diagnosed it as a broken shoulder and put me in for a reconstruction. Last season I missed two-thirds of the season recovering from the operation but played the last seven matches."

Ware, his frame as light as 87kg when he returned, has started this season weighing 103kg after undertaking a weights and dietary programme in the off-season.

Ware is originally out of the Alex Evans stable after being coached by the former Wallaby assistant coach throughout his secondary schooling at Brisbane Grammar School.

Ware could be thrust straight into Sunday's match against the powerful Tucuman.