North Queensland Cowboys recruit Justin O’Neill won’t rush back from second knee surgery in 12 months

COWBOYS recruit Justin O’Neill won’t rush a return from a second knee surgery in 12 months as he looks to put an injury-ridden year behind him.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Justin O'Neill looks on during a Melbourne Storm NRL training session at Gosch's Paddock on July 15, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)

NEW North Queensland Cowboys flyer Justin O’Neill won’t rush a return from a second knee surgery in 12 months as he looks to put an injury-ridden year behind him.

O’Neill arrived in Townsville on Sunday but was straight into work with his new teammates yesterday as he recovers from knee surgery three weeks ago, the procedure done to fix up a niggling knee injury picked up early in the pre-season in Melbourne.

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The arthroscope was his second in under a year and continued a horror run of injuries for the Townsville junior, who hurt his right knee at last year’s Auckland Nines which ruled him out until Round 5 before suffering a small fracture in his ankle on Anzac Day in Round 8.

Justin O'Neill goes off injured against the Warriors during the 2014 season.

The injuries and the Storm’s depth in the outside backs meant the 2012 premiership winner was restricted to just four first grade matches and he finished the season out with the Cronulla Sharks’ NSW Cup side.

The 23-year-old speedster has already sat down with respected Cowboys physio Steve Sartori to work out a recovery plan and before he even has a proper chat with coach Paul Green, he already has set himself a clear mission for the year.

“I’ve pretty much set a goal for myself from last year, I had a pretty rough season last year with injuries and being in-and-out of first grade,” O’Neill said.

“Just playing some game time (is a goal in 2015), I didn’t play too many games last year due to injury.

Justin O'Neill has arrived at the Cowboys under an injury cloud.

“This year my main focus is to get myself fit and healthy and play some consistent footy.”

With a return to running expected in the next fortnight, O’Neill said he was happy to miss out on a chance to impress his new coach and teammates at the Auckland Nines if it means he’ll be better in the long-term.

The former Townsville junior finds himself among family back in North Queensland and is also happy with life off the field after becoming engaged to girlfriend Chantelle Raleigh during a trip to Fiji last week.

In other Cowboys injury news, prop James Tamou is expected to start running this week after putting in the hard work over the Christmas break as he returns from neck surgery. Fellow forwards Matt Scott and Scott Bolton both are closing in on returns to contact work after shoulder injuries in the off-season.

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys recruit Justin O’Neill won’t rush back from second knee surgery in 12 months