Luke makes shock return
Stalwart Warriors hooker selected to start against Tigers pending fitness test on knee
Issac Luke could make a shock NRL return against the Wests Tigers on Saturday. The Warriors hooker was expected to be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a knee injury against the Storm last Wednesday, which saw him leave the field in the 16th minute of the 50-10 defeat.
But the Kiwis stalwart trained on Monday and was yesterday selected to start, pending a fitness test before the match.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney admitted the 31-year-old was a 50-50 call, but the fact he is even being considered is a surprise.
“It’s not for certain that he will play this week but we are giving him every opportunity to play,” Kearney told Radio Sport. “He’s had a bit of a knee issue but it wasn’t as bad as we initially thought. We anticipate the worst when that happens, and then take it from there.
“He has pulled up okay over the last few days — it was a big break — and we are just giving him every chance. It was always going to be a wait-and-see. He is not out of the woods but we are giving him every opportunity.”
The decision also reflects the club’s reliance on Luke. Unlike the other positions in the spine, there is no ready-made replacement at dummy half, especially with Nathaniel Roache out for the season.
Former Gold Coast utility Karl Lawton, who was signed in early March, has been named on an extended bench. He has been used at hooker for the club’s Intrust Super Premiership side, and is in line to become the ninth player to debut for the club this year.
Lawton comes on to the bench for Jazz Tevaga, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, while Anthony Gelling, Mason Lino and Isaiah Papali’i, all starters against the Storm, are on the extended bench.
If Luke doesn’t make the cut, Sam Cook could also be in line for a position in the 17 as a back-up to Lawton.
Aside from Luke, four other frontline players also return from injury for Saturday’s match.
Halfback Shaun Johnson and centre Solomone Kata make their comebacks after missing the last two matches, while second rower Tohu Harris is also set to return after being ruled out of the Anzac Day clash against the Storm due to concussion.
And prop James Gavet, who played the first three matches of the season, has been included on the bench after missing the last five rounds with a hamstring injury. Gavet played 38 minutes in the Warriors’ 20-18 Intrust Super Premiership win over Newtown last weekend.
Johnson is set to make his 149th career appearance on Saturday, meaning he will achieve his 150-game milestone against the Roosters on May 12, provided he has no further injury issues.
The Tigers encounter is the first of three home games in May, along with the Roosters and Rabbitohs. The Warriors also face the Parramatta Eels in Sydney on May 18
After their loss to Melbourne, the Warriors are third on the NRL ladder (six wins, two losses, 12 points) a third of the way through the season.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ sale to the Carlaw Park Heritage Trust will be finalised this week.
The Herald understands lawyers have been working their way through the documentation since Sunday, and the process is drawing to a close.