Loan player Jack Hetherington seems likely to make a timely NZ Warriors return for their NRL playoffs push.
The Penrith Panthers prop had made a significant impact for the Warriors, after answering an SOS to add depth to the club's severely depleted forwards stocks back in June.
But a four-week suspension for dangerous contact in the Warriors' win over Manly Sea Eagles and the Panthers' own injury issues saw him recalled to his parent club late last month.
With the Panthers now back near full health and his suspension completed after the upcoming round, Warriors coach Todd Payten hopes he'll have Hetherington back in his squad and available for selection against Cronulla Sharks next weekend.
"He would come back as quick as possible," Payten says. "But it’s all on the proviso that they [the Panthers] are fit and healthy across their middle forwards, which I think they are at the moment."
Hetherington's mixture of size, aggression and athleticism were a welcome addition to the side, and his return would help ease the loss of Eliesa Katoa, who's set to miss at least two weeks with a hand injury.
Meanwhile, Payten will be without the services of loan duo George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro, with Parramatta Eels blocked them from playing against their parent club on Sunday.
While Payten admits it's "not ideal", he sympathises with the club's predicament.
"I can understand Parramatta not letting them play and I’d probably head down that path if I was in that situation," he admits. "But it opens the opportunity for Gerard Beale to come into the side and Josh Curran hasn’t played for a long time.
"If we can play well and get a win, the effect that will have on the confidence and belief in the group will be quite profound.
"Daniel and George have been really strong for us, and they’ve been good members of our group.
"I've been happy with how they’ve attacked the change of scenery and being part of our group, so I know that they were keen to play against Parramatta, but it just didn’t work out that way."
This week, Payten is expected to be confirmed as the new North Queensland Cowboys head coach.
Although the deal seems all but official, Payten hesitates to discuss it any further and hasn't yet addressed his players on the matter.
"I'm not in a position to comment on that at the moment, but it won't be long."
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