Asotasi declares he's ready for NRL return - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Asotasi declares he's ready for NRL return

By Liam FitzGibbon 22/08/2011 05:59:01 PM Comments (0)

Roy Asotasi is upbeat about his chances of making a long-awaited NRL comeback this weekend and ready to "catch up" to his high-flying South Sydney team-mates in their late charge towards the NRL finals.

Asotasi has been out of action for four months with a broken wrist but could make his return in Sunday's clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, a game he likens to a grand final for the Redfern club.

The club captain will seek final clearance from a specialist on Tuesday but declared he felt ready to go having returned to full contact training a fortnight ago.

"I'm pretty confident, the medical staff are confident but, at the end of the day, it's the specialist that overrides everything," Asotasi said on Monday.

"It (the wrist) feels good ... I've been doing full contact with the team for the last two weeks.

"It's more just about getting the contact work in, the base fitness has been there for a while because that's all I've been doing for the last few months."

The front-rower acknowledged he would have to hit the ground running to slot back into a Rabbitohs side riding high on the back of four straight wins.

"It's the business end of the season. This is where everyone's got to pick up and I'm the one that's got to jump into the team that's riding the last four wins with a lot of confidence," Asotasi said.

"So it's up to me that's got to catch up to them instead of the other way around."

Asotasi stressed Souths were not getting carried away with their purple patch of form two weeks out from the finals, warning: "Lose one game and we're done.

"The wins have been great for the fans and the members but, as players, we know our situation.

"We've got to go up to Suncorp and play the Broncos. That's probably our grand final up there at Suncorp."

Asotasi's return could create a headache for coach John Lang, with Michael Crocker taking on the captain's armband to great effect in the Kiwi international's absence.

Asotasi said he was unsure if he would automatically reclaim the captaincy should he return but insisted both he and Crocker's only focus would be on the Broncos.

Rabbitohs officials are optimistic star backs Nathan Merritt (quad) and Greg Inglis (concussion) will be ready to make their returns at Suncorp Stadium after missing the golden-point win over North Queensland.

Merritt, who hurt his thigh during the warm-up before Friday night's match, had a pool session on Monday morning and is expected to return to full training by the end of the week.

Five-eighth John Sutton remains in doubt after fracturing his hand in the win but could still play on with the injury.

Stars Chris Sandow and Dave Taylor were among several players rested from training on Monday as a precaution due to minor knocks.

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