Injury Report: Afoa on track to return against Raiders

Long-serving One New Zealand Warriors prop Bunty Afoa is on track to be available for the club’s 21st-round home encounter with the Canberra Raiders at Go Media Stadium next Friday night (July 21).

The 26-year-old Afoa misses Sunday’s match against Cronulla-Sutherland as he follows NRL concussion protocols after receiving a head knock in Saturday night’s emphatic 46-10 win over Parramatta.

One New Zealand Warriors head of performance Balin Cupples said the 125-game front rower has been progressing effectively through the protocols.

Winger Edward Kosi, sidelined with a high grade MCL (medial cruciate ligament) injury, has begun “drilling and partial weight bearing running” with a view to progressing to full weight bearing this week.

Middle forward Jazz Tevaga (calf), who hasn’t played since the Anzac Day loss to Melbourne, is building game specific field loads, strength and team skill integration while standoff Te Maire Martin (fibula) continues to increase his tolerance to full-weight grass running.

Rookie back rower Demitric Sifakula is on target to return next week from a PCL injury and fellow first-year NRL Ali Leiataua (hamstring) has started his return to running on grass and is “going strongly with strength markers.”

Additionally, first-choice second rower Marata Niukore is in the third and final week of his suspension leaving him free to return for the round 21 clash against Canberra next Friday night.