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Keary back to annoying self at Roosters

3 minute read

Sydney Roosters playmaker is Luke Keary is in a good mental state according to teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, as both look to return to NRL action on Friday.

LUKE KEARY of the Roosters makes a break during the NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters at Lottoland in Sydney, Australia.
LUKE KEARY of the Roosters makes a break during the NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters at Lottoland in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Sydney Roosters playmaker Luke Keary is back to his annoying self after his latest concussion, according to teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as both hope to return for Friday's NRL clash with Wests Tigers.

Neither Keary or Waerea-Hargreaves have played for the Roosters since their May 24 loss to Newcastle.

Keary suffered the latest in a series of concussions, while forward Waerea-Hargreaves s copped a two-match suspension for a hit on Newcastle's Kalyn Pongia and missed last week's match against Melbourne after tweaking his hamstring while playing for New Zealand the week before.

The two men have been training together and both are a chance of playing this week.

"He (Keary) has been a pest, the first few weeks he was recovering but he's back to himself now and being the annoying sort of guy he is," Waerea-Hargreaves said.

"But I'd guess he's be itching (to play on Friday) as well."

Asked about Keary's mental state, Waerea-Hargreaves quipped: "He's good, I feel sorry for his wife.

"I think he was in at seven o'clock this morning, it just shows he wants to be back in amongst the lads so I'm pretty sure his mental state is pretty good."

Waerea-Hargreaves, who is returning to contact work this week, was philosophical about the risks connected with head knocks and concussion.

"As a current player there's no sort of fault the way that the head knocks occur," he said.

"It's part and parcel of the game. We know what's coming and we just get on with it."

He doubted contact would ever be fully removed from training sessions.

"...I can see certain sessions pulling right back on the contact levels," he said.

"But as a player, you need that full contact. You need that opposed sort of session each week...I can't really see the full contact getting out of training."

He said Roosters co-captain and hooker Jake Friend was pushing hard to return soon from the ruptured bicep that has sidelined him since late April.

Forward Sio Siua Taukeiaho, who was taken from the field in last Thursday's loss to Melbourne, will undergo standard HIA protocol leading into Friday's match.

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