The easy thing for Wayne Bennett would be to keep skipper Cameron Murray on ice, take no risks bringing him back early after a ruptured Achilles and allow him to start day one of pre-season training fully fit.
But Bennett has no plans of doing that, and if Murray is fit, says he will welcome his late cameo which is a reward for the hard work he has put in behind the scenes the past nine months.
Bennett has been in coaching 40 years and admitted he had never experienced an injury toll like the one that has rocked the Bunnies this year, which included a Wednesday training run in February when Murray and Latrell Mitchell went down within a couple of minutes of each other.
Murray has ramped up his running loads in recent weeks, and is desperate to return, provided he gets the all clear from the medical team.
Working towards playing a game in August is much easier to keep working hard, opposed to waiting until next March.
There is no desire to get back for the sake of putting himself in the shop window to be selected for Australia’s Ashes series – but simply a case of giving himself a short-term goal of playing some competitive football with his teammates who have sorely missed him.
South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray is on track for a late, late return.Credit: South Sydney Rabbitohs
“If it’s important for Cam to play a couple of games at the end of the season, he can do that – I won’t spoil it for him,” said Bennett, whose team host Cronulla on Saturday night in Gosford.
“There is a chance he’ll play before the season finishes. He’s done a remarkable job with his recovery.... I’ll do what he wants to do. He’s worked so hard to be a part of the team again.
“I’m not pushing him or prodding him to come back. If that’s the reward he wants to give himself for what he has put in … just after the operation, he had an infection, which set him back as well. His courage is unbelievable. The way he has worked so hard, I’m in his hands.
“Whatever decision he makes will be after he’s spoken with the medical staff.
“He won’t play if the medical staff aren’t confident, but they are at the moment, and everything is tracking well. None of us want to see him not play if he is fit to play. It’s important to him.”
Peter Mamouzelos failed a HIA last weekendCredit: Getty Images
If Murray does return, and with the Kangaroos thin on forwards, especially with several Origin players to defect to Samoa and Tonga, the 27-year-old would be a handy selection for new coach Kevin Walters.
Murray loves the Kangaroos’ jersey – he even played a Test with a wrist injury, which disrupted most of his pre-season – but he is only focused on clubland.
“It means a lot for him to play for Australia, but he’s not trying to come back for that reason,” Bennett said.
“He wants to reward himself for nine months of rehab. Even if it’s just a couple of games, it’s a game he loves, and it’s something he hasn’t been able to do. That’s his psyche more than anything else.”
Latrell Mitchell (hamstring) is expected back in round 23 against the Gold Coast TitansCredit: Getty
Bennett said 11 players were now unavailable, including Cody Walker (hamstring), Campbell Graham (back), Bud Sullivan (leg) and Mitchell (hamstring), who Bennett said would return for the round-23 clash against Gold Coast.
Prop Keaon Koloamtangi also broke down with an ankle injury last week against Penrith, while Peter Mamouzelos failed a HIA minutes later in the same game. Then halfback Jamie Humphreys suffered a concussion attempting a try in one of the final plays of the game, and failed testing afterwards.
Humphreys’ omission has paved the way for Lewis Dodd to finally wear the No. 7 jersey, with Bennett happy for the Englishman’s football to do the talking.