Hipgrave saddled with tough return
GOLD Coast Titans hitman Keegan Hipgrave has put his concussion battle behind him and is ready to take on North Queensland “Thoroughbred” Coen Hess.
Hipgrave will make his return from a 355-day concussion battle when the Titans take on the Cowboys in Townsville tomorrow night.
Hipgrave has not played a game since suffering a third concussion in a short time frame on June 9 last year.
The 23-year-old’s last game was the Titans’ Round 13 clash against the Broncos, with the fiery forward ruled out for the rest of the season to have neurological tests.
That was the last time the Titans tasted victory, with the club currently on a 13-game losing streak, albeit after this year’s season was suspended for two months due to COVID-19.
The Titans will be hoping Hipgrave is their lucky charm after the Gold Coast junior received a clearance from doctors to return to action.
“I’m so excited to play, it’s been a while for me to get back on the field,” he said.
“I got the tick of approval a while back and had to work through contact progressions. I’ve been in full contact for a number of months now so I’m really confident.”
Hipgrave will have a tough test in his return to the NRL.
He will start in the backrow after Bryce Cartwright was dropped and confront Cowboys wrecking ball Hess on his edge.
A confessed gym junkie, Hess has earned the nickname “The Thoroughbred” from Cowboys teammate Jordan McLean after returning from the two-month break in fantastic shape.
“I’ve been calling him ‘The Thoroughbred’ lately because he’s looking that trim and fit and has got veins coming out everywhere,” McLean said.
“He came back in great shape from the break. He’s probably at the peak of where his body can go and hopefully he can transfer that on to the field.”
Hess said he was expecting Hipgrave to be handful despite being out of the game for nearly a year.
“I played a lot of footy with and against Keegan,” he said.
“He is an aggressive player who will come at you all day.”