Luke may be fit to return this weekend

ISSAC Luke could make a shock return against the Wests Tigers this Saturday.

The hooker was expected to be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a knee injury against the Storm last Wednesday, which had him leave the field in the 16th minute of that match.

But the Kiwis stalwart trained on Monday and has been selected to start, pending a fitness test before the match.

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 outings against St George Illawarra and Melbourne while second rower Tohu Harris also returns after being ruled out of the clash against the Storm after suffering a concussion against the Dragons.

James Gavet, who played in the first three matches of the season, has been included on the bench after missing the last five rounds with a hamstring injury picked up on the eve of the fourthround encounter with the Sydney Roosters in March.

He played 38 minutes in the Warriors’ 2018 Intrust Super Premiership win over the Newtown Jets last Saturday, making 139m from 14 runs as well as 17 tackles.

Named on the extended bench in jersey No 14 is former Gold Coast utility Karl Lawton, who was signed in early March.

Used at hooker with the club’s ISP side, he is in line to become Warrior No 229, the ninth player to make his debut for the club so far 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.

Johnson is set to make his 149th career appearance, leaving him in line to achieve his 150game milestone at home against the Roosters on May 12.

The Warriors face a programme of three matches at Mount Smart Stadium in May against the Wests Tigers, the Roosters (May 12) and South Sydney (May 26), while they are away to Parramatta on May 18.

They come off a heavy loss to Melbourne after beating competition leader St George Illawarra five days earlier, a result which leaves them third on the ladder with six wins and two losses a third of the way through the season. — NZME