Liam Le Blanc will crown a rollercoaster 12 months, which included being diagnosed with a rare condition that led to heart surgery, when he makes his debut for South Sydney on Saturday night.
Le Blanc, a 19-year-old middle forward, has been named on the bench for the clash against a heavily depleted Manly side.
But the 2022 Australian Schoolboys representative feared he might not be fit enough to play at all this season after he discovered he had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, or WPW, which causes episodes of rapid heart rate.
Souths medicos picked up the problem during the pre-season following an ECG. Le Blanc underwent a series of stress tests, and required radio frequency ablation. He then had surgery before waiting to get the all clear from specialists to resume his league career.
“He could train, but he was not allowed to get his heart above a certain rate,” interim Souths coach Ben Hornby said. “He couldn’t train hard. It was a slow build.
“Once he got the all clear to play again, we had to build him up the best we could. He’s been back in [NSW] Cup for about four weeks, and each week he has just got better. He’s tough, he’s got a bit of footwork, and just a good kid who trains hard. It’s great he gets to debut.”
Liam Le Blanc will make his debut for South Sydney against Manly on Saturday night.Credit: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jye Gray also returns from an ankle injury for the first time since round nine. Gray will wear Latrell Mitchell’s No.1 jersey, but it remains to be seen if the pint-sized speedster retains the position once Mitchell returns from Origin duty.
Gray made his debut while Mitchell was suspended earlier in the season, and there were suggestions he would move to fullback to allow Mitchell to return in the centres, where he will play for the Blues.
Hornby was happy to reserve judgment, but said Mitchell had been in irresistible form at the back in recent weeks.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, and the way our season has gone, we can’t plan too far ahead because every time one player comes back, one goes out. I hope I’ve got that headache in a week’s time,” Hornby said.
Manly have been rocked by injuries and suspension, and will hand a debut to Fijian international Caleb Navale.
Navale has impressed teammates, including Blues back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu, who said the 21-year-old’s work ethic reminded him of fellow NSW player Cameron Murray.
“Keep an eye on Caleb, he’s a very good player and reminds me a bit of Cameron Murray,” Olakau’atu said.
“You watch Cameron Murray, he does so much off the ball, and Caleb does the same thing. He has a really good work ethic, works hard, does not stop running, and is all-in when he plays.
“I’m backing the boys on Saturday. The whole point of pre-season is getting the young boys ready for times like this.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Papenhuyzen has reclaimed the Storm No.1 jersey as he returns from an ankle injury for the first time since round nine.
Papenhuyzen slots straight into the custodian role with Sua Fa’alogo, a handy fullback replacement, moving to the wing for Friday’s clash against the Dolphins.
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