Quicker return boost for Broncos

STEELY Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough will make a stunning comeback from an elbow injury tonight, three weeks earlier than expected.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett named the star No. 9 for his surprise return on Tuesday, but it was not until he finished yesterday’s final training run that it was confirmed he would be back for tonight’s clash with the Bulldogs.

The inclusion of McCullough comes just two weeks after he was ruled out for at least a month with damage to the medial ligament in his elbow.

It has been a miraculous recovery for one of Brisbane’s most consistent players, with club medical staff not expecting him back for another three weeks.

But Bennett revealed that McCullough was the one who volunteered to make an early comeback, after Brisbane lost his No. 9 replacement Josh McGuire for six weeks to an ankle injury.

“He’s confident about being able to play and he volunteered himself … he sent me a text on Monday,” Bennett said.

“Yeah, I am ( surprised he’s back early) but that’s the making of the bloke. He’s remarkable.

“He does everything right, that’s half the battle. From the moment he gets an injury he does everything he possibly can to get himself ready to play again.”

McCullough trained strongly yesterday with his left arm bandaged.

There had been some scrutiny as to whether he was putting himself at further risk by playing, but Bennett dismissed those concerns.

“He made himself available, he didn’t say he was playing,” he said.

“It’s not up to him whether he plays or not, it’s up to us whether he plays or not.

“We’ve taken all the other precautions and all the other tests, all the things we need to know and no one can see any reason why he can’t play.”