Confirmed: Sharks star returns

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 meanwhile will be racing the clock to be part of the club’s Pre-Season Challenge campaign after spraining his ankle at training on Wednesday.

An MRI on his left ankle confirmed the injury, with Broncos head of performance Dave 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.

Manly star Tom Trbojevic has declared himself fully fit and ready for Round 1 in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old played just 11 games last season after a torn pectoral in Origin II ended another NRL campaign prematurely.

“A pec is about a three-month injury so I’ve had plenty of time for that to recover and I’m in a really good mental space now and training really hard,” Trbojevic said.

“Coming into pre-season I was basically ready to go so it’s been a really good five or six weeks. I’m fully fit. Contact and everything has all been cleared so I’m good to go.”