Lillyman cleared for Warriors return
An excited Jacob Lillyman was today cleared to make his long-awaited return to the NRL in the Warriors' ninth-round clash against Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night (7.
by NRLAn excited Jacob Lillyman was today cleared to make his long-awaited return to the NRL in the Warriors' ninth-round clash against Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night (7.30 kick-off).
The 28-year-old has been sidelined since tearing his right bicep off the tendon at the elbow only 10 minutes into the Vodafone Warriors' first preseason trial against Gold Coast at North Harbour Stadium on February 4.
The Queensland State of Origin front rower has trained fully with the Vodafone Warriors this week but needed a clearance before his playing return could be confirmed.
Lillyman was examined this afternoon and returned to the club later beaming enthusiastically as he told head coach Brian McClennan he was ready to resume playing.
It means the 124-game NRL veteran is now set to make his first NRL appearance of the year as scheduled exactly three months after surgery. It comes as the Vodafone Warriors prepare to face one of the hottest teams of the season, Brisbane running second in the competition after a run of six straight wins.
Lillyman wasn't named in the team yesterday as he awaited a clearance. Instead McClennan went for a five-man bench of Lewis Brown, Ukuma Ta'ai, Sione Lousi, Pita Godinet and Krisnan Inu.
Lillyman's availability coincides with the loss of fellow front row veteran Sam Rapira, out short-term with an ankle sprain he picked up in the Anzac Day loss to Melbourne.
The Vodafone Warriors' final line-up to face the Broncos will be confirmed an hour before kick-off on Saturday night.
WARRIORS v BRISBANE
Sat 05/05/12, Mt Smart Stadium, 7.30pm (NZ)
Referees: Ben Cummins, Jason Robinson
Sideline Officials: Ricky MacFarlane, Brenden Wood
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Warriors: 1 Jerome Ropati, 2 Bill Tupou, 3 Ben Henry, 4 Konrad Hurrell, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 James Maloney, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Nathan Friend, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Elijah Taylor, 12 Simon Mannering [c], 13 Feleti Mateo. Subs: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Ukuma Ta'ai, 16 Sione Lousi, 17 Pita Godinet, 18 Krisnan Inu (one to be omitted).
Brisbane: 1 Josh Hoffman, 2 Gerard Beale, 3 Jack Reed, 4 Justin Hodges, 5 Dale Copley, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Peter Wallace, 8 Ben Hannant, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Petero Civoniceva, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Sam Thaiday [c], 13 Corey Parker. Subs: 14 Ben Hunt, 15 Josh McGuire, 16 Matt Gillett, 17 Ben Te'o.
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