Cameron Munster believes he will be fit for the Storm’s Round 1 clash with Parramatta on March 9 at AAMI Park as the star playmaker continues his recovery from hip surgery.
Munster had surgery on both his hips following Melbourne’s NRL grand final loss to Penrith and missed Australia’s victorious Pacific Championships campaign.
The Origin five-eighth is undergoing rehabilitation to strengthen his glutes, groins and hips and won’t start running until February.
However, he is aiming to play in the opening round at AAMI Park.
“I’m pretty frustrated. I’ve been inside for a while and I want to be able to get back out there and run, but I’m optimistic,” Munster said.
“I won’t be able to run until February. I’m doing everything I can to fast track it but [the fitness staff] are not going to push as hard as I want to go.”
“I will be ready to go by round one – which is me pencilling myself in.
“I’ll be hopefully running and doing full contact by February, hopefully even get a trial game in but we’ll see where we are at.”
Panthers centre Paul Alamoti suffered a suspected dislocated elbow during Tonga’s clash with the Kangaroos on Sunday.
Alamoti was attempting a tackle in the 45th minute of the match and came reeling out of the contact clutching his arm.
Kiwi winger Will Warbrick missed Sunday’s promotion-relegation clash against the Kumuls after succumbing to a thigh injury suffered in the loss to Tonga XIII.
Warbrick played the full 80 minutes and ran for 110 metres but the injury failed to come up during the week and he was replaced by youngster Casey McLean.
McLean became the third youngest Test debutant in New Zealand rugby league history at the age of 18 years and 200 days and produced a stunning four-try haul in his maiden Test match.
Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray has undergone surgery for a wrist injury sustained while in camp with the Kangaroos.
Murray suffered the injury during training in the lead up to Australia’s 22-10 defeat of New Zealand in Christchurch, ruling him out of Sunday’s Pacific Cup final against Tonga at CommBank Stadium.
South Sydney officials said the operation had been a success.
The Test and Origin forward’s wrist will be immobilized in a cast for a six-week period, after which his progress will be assessed and a rehabilitation program implemented.
A time frame will be established once he has completed the initial six-week period post-operation.
Clive Churchill Medal winner Liam Martin was ruled out of Pacific Championships after succumbing to injuries picked up throughout the NRL season.
The Penrith forward has carried shoulder and rib injuries in recent weeks. While he was initially named in the Kangaroos squad, he was replaced by Raiders star Hudson Young.
Meanwhile, the Kiwis were dealt a major blow with Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes withdrawing from New Zealand’s Pacific Championships campaign due to a neck injury.
“Jahrome is understandably shattered and we really feel for him,” Kiwi coach Stacey Jones said.
“He has had an outstanding year and he was going to play a key role for the Kiwis again.
“He was desperate to play and we thought, with some time on our side, he would come right with treatment but he has since received medical advice that he won’t be ready to play.”
Across the league, there were a number of payers not considered for selection for the Pacific Championships due to injury.
The Kiwis are also missing Jeremy Marshall-King, who has undergone minor knee surgery but is expected to be right to start the pre-season when the club’s senior players return.
Marshall-King’s Dolphins teammate Connelly Lemuel has undergone a shoulder reconstruction and is looking at a five-month rehabilitation period.
That will have him back for the pre-season trials and give him a good shot of starting the season in round one for the Dolphins.
Panthers skipper Nathan Cleary is set for shoulder surgery while Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster will likely go under the knife for a groin injury.
New Zealand did not select Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee), Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Moses Leota (shoulder), Brandon Smith (knee), Jeremy Marshall-King (knee), Briton Nikora (ankle), Kayal Iro (hamstring), Te Maire Martin (neck).
Panthers winger Brian To’o will also miss Samoa’s tour of England after he picked up a knee injury in Sunday’s grand final.
To’o, who has played in Penrith’s four consecutive premiership wins, came from the field in the 59th minute after a knee clash and went up the tunnel to the dressing rooms.
He later returned to the sideline and spent time on an exercise bike before practicing passing and tackling with a trainer but did not return to the field.
To’o had already clocked up 213 metres from 22 runs when he was forced from the field in the decider.
Panthers back-rower Scott Sorensen made it back from a hamstring injury to play his part in the grand final victory.
Sorensen had missed both of the Panthers’ finals wins but was thrown straight back into the starting side by Ivan Cleary, getting through 70 minutes of game time and running for 124 metres
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