Injury Report: Tevaga edging closer to return from long lay-off

While a return date is not yet established, Jazz Tevaga's long-awaited comeback from a frustrating calf injury is getting closer.

The energetic One New Zealand Warriors middle forward hasn’t played since the round eight encounter with the Melbourne Storm on Anzac Day.

That makes it more than nine weeks since the bald brothers Tevaga and Dylan Walker have been in harness.

Along the way Walker has also been out of commission, a toe injury keeping him out of the matches against Brisbane, the Dolphins and Canberra before he returned for the big 48-18 win over St George Illawarra last Friday night.

While Walker is now back Tevaga is still biding his time but is making progress.

One New Zealand Warriors head of performance Balin Cupples said the 27-year-old has moved into “game specific running loads on grass” and he has also started “initial team skill integration”. As much was there to see as a smiling Tevaga joined his teammates on the training field this week. 

Standoff Te Maire Martin is still a while away from making a return after breaking the fibula in his left leg in the round six match against Newcastle on April 9.

“Te Maire is continuing early progressions of full weight bearing running on the field. He’s in the early running phase,” said Cupples.

Demitric Sifakula (knee) is building strength work and has returned to field rehab based running while Ali Leiataua (hamstring) is "building his range and strength and has begun some initial drilling work”.