The Sea Eagles expect back-rower Josh Schuster to be available for their opening Pre-Season Challenge clash with the Roosters on February 17, following a string of injury and health concerns.
The 22-year-old picked up a calf injury on January 29 which kept him out of action for the remainder of the club’s training sessions that week, but he is expected to return to running in the second week of February.
The calf blow came after he broke his finger at a team camp in Canberra in early January and required surgery to fix it, not long after he’d recovered from contracting chickenpox the week before Christmas.
But coach Anthony Seibold told the club website that he doesn’t believe Schuster will be in any doubt for upcoming Pre-season Challenge matches or Round 1 of the Telstra Premiership season.
“We expect him to play against the Roosters in our first official trial,” Seibold said.
“He will return to running next week and then train a full week heading into the Roosters. I was really pleased before he got chicken pox where he had progressed too.
“I feel like he will perform well and will be on the plane to (Las) Vegas with us (for round one).”
Across the ditch at the Warriors Shaun Johnson is expected to rejoin the main training group the week commencing February 5, with coach Andrew Webster confirming the club are looking to play him in their second Pre-Season Challenge match against the Dolphins.
Webster said his star No.7 remains in no doubt for Round 1.
Parramatta are set to skipper Clint Gutherson and representative prop Junior Paulo in coming days, after the pair were held back from full training as they recovered from knee and toe injuries respectively.
In an update on January 23 the club said after each undergoing surgery over the off-season, the pair are nearing a return to full fitness, while Makahesi Makatoa (pec) and Daejarn Asi (finger) have now re-joined the main training group after completing their own recovery periods following surgery.
