After three defeats in their last four matches and with their NRL season at a crossroads, NZ Warriors have received a timely boost, with star forward Addin Fonua-Blake in line to return from injury.
Fonua-Blake is expected to return from injury in the Warriors' next match against Melbourne Storm at Central Coast Stadium.
The Tongan international suffered a knee injury in round four in just his fourth game for his new club against Sydney Roosters, which was later diagnosed as a left tibial fracture and posterior cruciate ligament issue.
The 25-year-old was expected to have surgery on the knee, which would've kept him out for most of the season, but after seeking a second opinion, the decision was made to do rehab and focus on returning to the field much sooner.
In that time, Founa-Blake has missed eight games, with the Warriors winning only three of them to leave sitting in 10th place, two points outside the top eight.
The Auckland side are one of eight teams with a bye this week, giving Fonua-Blake more time to prepare for his return from injury.
The big prop has just begun training with his Warriors teammates, aiming for a shock return against the Storm next weekend.
"He's tracking good, Addin, and we are hopeful that he will be fit to play against the Storm," Warriors head coach Nathan Brown says. "He actually did a session towards the end of last week with the team and he trained with the team again today, [Thursday] and all things being equal, we are expecting him to be fit against the Storm.
"He's been out for a long stint, and to have Adam's talent and experience away is a loss for us. We obviously have quite a number of young forwards that are playing and Addin's impression can be quite good.
"He certainly gives people a bit of confidence in themselves, so having someone of his quality come back in the team is a real bonus."
Fonua-Blake had already made an impression in the four games he played before the injury, grabbing a try, 11 tackle breaks, 261 post-contact metres and averaging 140 running metres a game.
His inclusion will make a real difference to a Warriors side that have struggled to gain the upper hand in the forward battle.
In the eight rounds Fonua-Blake has missed, they have only run for more metres twice, resulting in just three victories.
The Warriors will look to bounce back from their heartbreaking last-gasp 29-28 defeat to North Queensland Cowboys, but will do so without teen sensation Reece Walsh and Adam Pompey, who will both serve one-game bans.
The Storm may have five Origin stars - Josh Addo-Carr, Christian Welch, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Harry Grant - backing up.
Join us at 10pm Wednesday for live updates of the NSW v Queensland State of Origin I
