Warriors superstar Shaun Johnson and Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds remain on track for Round 1 despite suffering injuries during pre-season training.
Reynolds sent a scare through the Broncos’ camp after being assisted from the field during a training session on Monday.
The club confirmed in a statement that the 33-year-old sustained a strain to his right foot but is expected to return to running later this week.
“Adam picked up the injury in a drill towards the end of today’s session,” Broncos Head of Performance Dave Ballard said on January 22.
“We’ll see how he pulls up over the next 24 hours but he is a quick healer and we expect him to be back running in the coming days.”
The Warriors also confirmed on Monday that Johnson will be available for the club’s opening match against Cronulla despite suffering a moderate ankle sprain at training.
The halfback was placed in a moon boot after picking up the ankle injury during a session last week.
Meanwhile a hamstring injury may keep Dolphins playmaker Anthony Milford out of the Pre-Season Challenge, with the veteran not expected to be available until around the second week of February.
Titans star David Fifita has returned to the training after undergoing surgery to repair a partial pectoral tear in December.
The club confirmed the representative back-rower began jogging on January 18, four weeks post-operation, and will now increase his running loads in coming weeks in a bid to regain normal movement.
The 23-year-old is on track to be available for the club’s Round 1 clash against the Dragons and could feature in the Pre-Season Challenge.
At the Cowboys fullback Tom Chester has returned to full training as he pushes to be available for the club’s Pre-Season Challenge matches in February.
Chester’s return to normal activity on January 15 comes less than nine months on from him rupturing his ACL in Round 9 last year.
At the other end of the spectrum Dragons recruit Corey Allan has been dealt a cruel blow a month out from the start of the new season, with confirmation he suffered a ruptured ACL at training on January 11.
The club confirmed the 25-year-old backline utility will require a knee reconstruction, with the estimated recovery period of nine months meaning he will miss the entire 2024 campaign.
Having only signed Allan in mid-December, Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan said it was extremely disappointing news.
“Terrible news both for Corey and the club. He had settled in well since joining the club in December and was set to push for a club debut in the backline early in the season,” he said.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs say a timeline for playmaker Karl Oloapu’s return to action remains indefinite, following the 18-year-old undergoing spinal fusion surgery in late 2023. The club said the surgery had provided Oloapu with relief from pain, with a post-surgery review set down for a few months’ time.
Forward Ryan Sutton is closing in on a return to full training as he works back from a knee injury, while new recruit Connor Tracey (leg) is still yet to return to full training but remains on track to be available for Round 1 of the new season.
Dolphins back-rower Connelly Lemuelu has returned to the training field for the first time since suffering a knee injury while playing for Samoa last October.
The 25-year-old damaged both his MCL and PCL against Australia and has been rehabbing ever since, but is now hopeful of being back for the club’s season-opener against the Cowboys and remains a chance to feature in February’s Pre-Season Challenge.
“I am just sort of easing into it this week (commencing January 8) and next week hopefully get into full training,” Lemuelu said on the Dolphins website.
Broncos winger Jesse Arthars will be racing the clock to be part of the club’s Pre-Season Challenge campaign after spraining his ankle at training.
An MRI on his left ankle confirmed the injury, with Ballard saying the aim will now be to have him fit and firing for the February 18 pre-season clash with the Cowboys in Mackay.
The club’s forwards Payne Haas (general hamstring tightness) and Fletcher Baker (returning from groin surgery) have been training away from the main group, but are on track for Round 1.
Eels forward Ryan Matterson has resumed full training after overcoming the quad injury he sustained during training prior to Christmas.
The 29-year-old is the first on a long list of players Parramatta expect to welcome back in coming weeks, with fellow forward Wiremu Greig (foot) on track for a late January return and Clint Gutherson (knee), Junior Paulo (toe), Makahesi Makatoa (pectoral) and Daejarn Asi (finger) all progressing well.