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Kieran Foran may still not be ready to play when the NRL season returns on May 28, with the Kiwi playmaker still not able to take part in contact training sessions at the Bulldogs.
Kieran Foran’s round three return has hit an obstacle with the Canterbury playmaker failing to take part in this week’s contact sessions at Belmore.
Teammate Reimis Smith said that Foran was still on a modified program, while the rest of the team had begun contact sessions in preparation for the May 28 restart.
“Not really [did he take part in the contact session], I think he was just doing a bit of modified stuff … but he is doing what he can at the moment. It’s looking positive but I don’t know if he’ll be there at the start of the season,” Smith said.
Last week, Coach Dean Pay said Foran’s return would depend on him completing more “intensive” training in the lead up to round three.
The 29-year-old Foran suffered a shoulder injury while playing for New Zealand against Great Britain in November last year.
Foran was set to miss at least 12 rounds before the season was suspended on March 23 due to the coronavirus.
The Kiwi international will now only miss a further one or two games depending on how soon he returns to full contact training.
Smith said Foran’s timely return would be a “massive” boost to the Bulldogs after losing their first two games of the season.
Foran could find himself playing alongside Wests Tigers playmaker Josh Reynolds in the halves when he finally makes his comeback. Canterbury favourite Reynolds could be Belmore bound in 2020 if the Tigers and Bulldogs can come to an agreement over the terms of his release.
Pay will also be without new recruit Joe Stimson after he suffered a season ending shoulder injury in round two against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Flyer Smith has backed young forward Renouf To'omaga as Stimson’s replacement when the season restarts.
“There are so many quality backrowers … Renouf has put his hand up, Raymond Faitala-Mariner has his hand up and there are a few others pushing hard from that spot,” Smith said.
“[Renouf] came back [looking] really good. He came back slim and lighter than what he left. He was excited when he came back but there was a spring in his step and there was something different about him. He wants that spot pretty hard and he has been training really hard for it.”
Reimis Smith has backed Renouf To'omaga to replace the injured Joe Stimson. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Bulldogs fans can expect to see Smith in his new spot at left centre again, after playing on the right wing in 2019 where he finished as the club’s top tryscorer with 12 tries.
Canterbury’s winless start to the season hasn’t dampened Smith’s confidence. The 24-year old said with enough time in his new position he could be one of the elite centres in the game.
“I’ve had those two games at centre and there is a lot of room to grow and it’s a challenge. But at the end of the day I back my ability and I believe in myself that I can be one of the best centres in the game. That’s what I’m striving for,” Smith said.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...k/news-story/4842fb1ed429e4fc803f603c79fc96f5
Kieran Foran’s round three return has hit an obstacle with the Canterbury playmaker failing to take part in this week’s contact sessions at Belmore.
Teammate Reimis Smith said that Foran was still on a modified program, while the rest of the team had begun contact sessions in preparation for the May 28 restart.
“Not really [did he take part in the contact session], I think he was just doing a bit of modified stuff … but he is doing what he can at the moment. It’s looking positive but I don’t know if he’ll be there at the start of the season,” Smith said.
Last week, Coach Dean Pay said Foran’s return would depend on him completing more “intensive” training in the lead up to round three.
The 29-year-old Foran suffered a shoulder injury while playing for New Zealand against Great Britain in November last year.
Foran was set to miss at least 12 rounds before the season was suspended on March 23 due to the coronavirus.
The Kiwi international will now only miss a further one or two games depending on how soon he returns to full contact training.
Smith said Foran’s timely return would be a “massive” boost to the Bulldogs after losing their first two games of the season.
Foran could find himself playing alongside Wests Tigers playmaker Josh Reynolds in the halves when he finally makes his comeback. Canterbury favourite Reynolds could be Belmore bound in 2020 if the Tigers and Bulldogs can come to an agreement over the terms of his release.
Pay will also be without new recruit Joe Stimson after he suffered a season ending shoulder injury in round two against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Flyer Smith has backed young forward Renouf To'omaga as Stimson’s replacement when the season restarts.
“There are so many quality backrowers … Renouf has put his hand up, Raymond Faitala-Mariner has his hand up and there are a few others pushing hard from that spot,” Smith said.
“[Renouf] came back [looking] really good. He came back slim and lighter than what he left. He was excited when he came back but there was a spring in his step and there was something different about him. He wants that spot pretty hard and he has been training really hard for it.”
Reimis Smith has backed Renouf To'omaga to replace the injured Joe Stimson. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Bulldogs fans can expect to see Smith in his new spot at left centre again, after playing on the right wing in 2019 where he finished as the club’s top tryscorer with 12 tries.
Canterbury’s winless start to the season hasn’t dampened Smith’s confidence. The 24-year old said with enough time in his new position he could be one of the elite centres in the game.
“I’ve had those two games at centre and there is a lot of room to grow and it’s a challenge. But at the end of the day I back my ability and I believe in myself that I can be one of the best centres in the game. That’s what I’m striving for,” Smith said.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...k/news-story/4842fb1ed429e4fc803f603c79fc96f5
