Injured NRL stars tracking well for pre-season return after horrible luck in 2024

The NRL Pre-Season Challenge is officially one month away, and while plenty of stars will be on limited duties, the matches represent a tremendous opportunity for players who missed large chunks of 2024 to get some valuable game time before the new season begins.

TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI

The Titans confirmed on Monday that their skipper would return to full training later this month after he ruptured his ACL against the Bulldogs last year.

Fa’asuamaleaui is one of the best middle forwards in the world, and the Titans missed his offloads and quick play-the-balls in 2024 that would have proved invaluable for their speedy spine.

The Titans have the bye in round 1, but don’t be surprised to see the rep star make an appearance in pre-season either against the Broncos on February 16 or against the Dolphins the following week.

“Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is set to rejoin the main squad in the next fortnight as he begins the final stages of returning from his ACL injury,” the club’s rehab report said.

“Upon completing a two-week training camp with world-renowned sports reconditioning and athletic coach Bill Knowles, the Titans skipper has been progressing through a modified training program as part of his rehab plan, with full integration expected in mid-January.”

TOM GILBERT

Queensland desperately missed some grunt up front, which is why they’re praying the luckless Tom Gilbert can stay on the field in 2025.

The Dolphins hard man hasn’t played an NRL game since May 2023 after he suffered a serious shoulder injury in Origin and then a devastating ACL tear in a pre-season game against the Warriors last year.

His aggression will be a huge asset to a Dolphins pack that punched above its weight last year, with Gilbert eyeing off a clash with former coach Wayne Bennett in round 1 when the Rabbitohs come to town.

“We’ve got a plan and it’s not a complicated plan,” he said of his return when asked about it back in November.

“It’s quite simple, (but) the thing about that is it’s quite far away for me. Getting things right, day-to-day training, going back and playing at a level, you need to go earn that, and I know for a fact that I’m not going to walk back into any jersey or this side.

“I need to work hard. I need to get my football back to a level that’s Dolphins standard, and I need to work really hard today and tomorrow, and all those things will come.”

CAMPBELL GRAHAM

There’s been plenty of chat about Wayne Bennett’s return to South Sydney, but it’s easy to forget they’re also about to welcome back one of the best centres in the world.

Campbell Graham won the George Piggins Medal in 2023 but missed all of last year after he was forced to have surgery to repair a sternum injury that had troubled him for months.

He scored a career-high 16 tries in 2023 and could be back for their first pre-season game in Gosford or in the Charity Shield clash the following week.

“I never really had any doubts in terms of playing. It was more angst to get back out there,” Graham said late last year, with the Bunnies forced to deal with several injuries to key personnel in 2024.

“The end of this rehab journey is over. I’m fully training and my focus is back on playing footy.”

J’MAINE HOPGOOD

The Eels will welcome back a host of stars, with Dylan Brown (partial ACL tear), Mitchell Moses (biceps) and Junior Paulo (lisfranc) all back at training.

But all eyes will be on workhorse lock J’maine Hopgood whose season was cut short by a back injury that required surgery.

Hopgood made his Maroons debut but hasn’t played an NRL game since round 14 last year, with the middle forward in doubt for the pre-season following more surgery.

“J’maine Hopgood (back, knee) has made a full recovery from the back injury which saw him miss the second half of the 2024 season,” the club revealed last month.

“However, he recently underwent an arthroscopy to resolve a knee issue. Hopgood is aiming to begin full training in late January or early February.”