Inside his Froling family's emotional 'rollercoaster'

• Sam Froling has injured his Achilles and is out indefinitely
• Harry Froling made his return to basketball after more than two years out with a horrific brain injury
• Shane Froling said the family would rally around Sam the way it did for Harry

Shane Froling has opened up about the "rollercoaster" week for his family after son and Illawarra Hawks star Sam Froling suffered a devastating season-ending Achilles injury in Game 4 of the NBL Championship Series on March 19, 2025 at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.

"It's gut-wrenching but straight away we band together and go, all right, well, let's get him better. Yeah," Shane said.

It is a crushing blow for one of the best young talents in the NBL and his family, who were on a high following the successful return of Sam's older brother Harry, 26, for the Taranaki Airs in the NZNBL after two years out of the game with a serious brain injury.

Doctors had told Harry he may never play basketball again.

Hawks centre Sam, 25, left the game with eight minutes left in the second quarter after falling over on a pass from a baseline out-of-bounds play and didn't reappear until the second half with crutches and ice on the injured area.

While Froling will have scans back in Wollongong today (Thursday, March 20, 2025) to confirm to severity of the injury, it is almost certainly a ruptured Achilles with the 25-year-old is expected to miss a significant amount of time.

"When we watched it happen, you were hoping that it was nothing, but I sort of knew when he didn't come out of the change room before halftime, it was probably something pretty serious," former NBL player Shane Froling, who played more than 100 games, told basketball.com.au.

"He went into the room and the physio did some tests on him.

"The tests didn't come back as great. So, I'd messaged him and thankfully he'd picked up his phone and he and the physio had a chat during the game just to relieve our minds a little.

"You just had a gut feeling something wasn't right."

Hawks coach Justin Tatum said Froling was in "good spirits" in the post-game press conference and his dad said echoed that sentiment.

"Of course he's still in some good spirits, he's living in Wollongong, he's living his best life at the beach, he's enjoying life," Shane said.

"He's gutted deeply but he's realistic about it and he's like 'well, there's nothing we could do about it' and his mindset was on the team winning from that point.

"(The past week) really has been a rollercoaster. But I guess the difference between Harry and Sam is this was self inflicted, this wasn't caused by something unnecessary.

"Being a sporting family, you expect an injury somewhere through your career. So, this is Sam's first and hopefully his last and we'll work through it like we have with everyone else.

"All four of them (Harry, Sam and daughters Keely and Alicia) now have had major injuries.

"Sam was planning on taking this offseason off basketball, he wasn't going to play anything, so his recovery can also be, as he said, where he's working on his shot. He says 'well, when I come back and I'm dropping threes and shooting balls, I'll surprise the heck out of everyone'.

"So, you know, positive aspect for him to say that and feel that.

"Again, we don't know the extent of it, so we'll find out, you know, hopefully worst case it's nine months and anything less is a bonus."

Shane said he and his wife, Jenny, would travel down to Wollongong on Saturday, March 22, 2025 while Keely will also visit Sam but insisted he would have incredible family support during his whole recovery, especially from Harry, who he helped in his return.

Harry spent the past few months with Sam, even training with the Hawks and helping them prepare for the playoffs as he prepared himself for an emotional return to the game.

"I'm sure that brotherly love will be there from Harry to Sam as it was the other way," Shane said.

"Seeing that makes me extremely proud of the boys."

Sam is expected to be one of the hottest free agents on the market in the NBL offseason and Shane said he didn't expect that to change because of the injury.

"He's only 25 and it's not like it's a career-threatening injury or anything like that so I'm sure he will be fine," he said.

He also said the Hawks winning the championship on Sunday would be the perfect medicine for Sam and he believed Illawarra could get the job done, even without his son.

Across the Tasman in New Zealand, Harry is dominating in his return to the court, he had 32 points in his first game back, but Shane said he still had plenty of room for improvement, including getting his three-point shot back and continuing to get back in game shape.

His dream was to see Harry back in the NBL either playing alongside his brother or matching-up against each other once again.

What is an Achilles Tendon tear

An Achilles tendon tear is a rupture of the strong fibrous cord that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It commonly occurs in activities that involve sudden acceleration, jumping, or rapid changes in direction, such as basketball. A tear can be partial (some fibres are damaged) or complete (the tendon is fully ruptured).

Common Symptoms

A sudden, sharp pain in the back of the ankle or calf (often described as feeling like being "kicked" or "shot").
A popping sound at the time of injury.
Difficulty walking, pushing off the foot, or standing on tiptoe.
Swelling and bruising around the ankle.
A gap or indentation may be felt where the tendon has ruptured.

Diagnosis

A doctor typically diagnoses an Achilles tear through:

Thompson Test: Squeezing the calf while the foot hangs freely — if there’s no movement, it suggests a rupture.
Imaging: MRI or ultrasound may confirm the severity.

Recovery from an Achilles Tear

The recovery path depends on the severity of the tear and whether surgery is required.

Non-Surgical Treatment (for Partial Tears or Certain Patients)‍

• Immobilisation in a cast, walking boot, or brace for 6–8 weeks to allow healing.
• Physical therapy begins once healing progresses, focusing on restoring mobility, strength, and flexibility.
• Recovery can take 6+ months before returning to high-impact activities.

Surgical Treatment (for Complete Tears)

• Procedure: The tendon is stitched together and reinforced.
• Immobilisation: A cast or boot is worn for 6–8 weeks.‍
• Rehabilitation: Gradual weight-bearing begins within weeks, followed by physical therapy.
• Return to sports: Usually takes 9–12 months with progressive strengthening and agility training.

Early Healing (0-6 Weeks)

• Immobilisation with a gradual increase in ankle movement.
• Minimal weight-bearing with crutches.

Rebuilding Strength (6-12 Weeks)

• Light range of motion exercises.
• Transition from a boot to full weight-bearing.

Strength & Mobility (3-6 Months)

• Calf raises, resistance bands, and balance exercises.
• Gentle jogging may start at 5-6 months.

Return to Sport (6-12 Months)

• Plyometrics and agility drills to restore power.
• Sport-specific drills to regain confidence and full function.

Key Factors for Recovery

• Patience: Achilles injuries require long, structured rehab—rushing back too soon increases the risk of re-rupture.
• Diligent Physical Therapy: Strength and flexibility exercises are crucial to prevent stiffness and weakness.
• Nutrition & Hydration: Proper diet aids healing.
• Gradual Progression: Avoid sudden high-impact movements until cleared by a specialist.