PAPUA New Guinea international Justin Olam is set to return for the Melbourne Storm in round three of the National Rugby League (NRL) clash against Gold Coast Titans on March 18.
Storm general manager Frank Ponissi confirmed with The National yesterday that the 2021 Dally M centre of the year would return to action sooner than expected after fracturing his forearm in the preseason match against the Sydney Roosters in Geelong, Victoria, on Feb 12.
Initially it was estimated that the injury would take at least six weeks but a clearer indication of his recovery period was provided after the 29-year-old underwent surgery.
“We expect Justin Olam to return as early as round three or round four,” Ponissi said.
The Chimbu native has played 87 NRL games and scored 40 tries after he made his debut in round nine of the 2018 season where he played at centre for the Storm against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval in Sydney.
The 2020 premiership winner is 13 games shy from his 100th NRL appearance and he will be hoping to reach that milestone in his sixth season in arguably the toughest rugby league competition in the world.
Craig Bellamy has named Young Tonumaipea as replacement for Olam in the opening rounds of the season.
Tonumaipea was with the Storm from 2014-2018 seasons. The Samoan and Olam were rivals who competed for centre position in 2018 season before he left the club to do missionary work in Germany for two years.
With Tonumaipea returning to Melbourne in 2023, the injury to Olam also presents him the opportunity to impress Bellamy.
News source www.thenational.com.pg
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