St George Illawarra Dragons National Youth Competition team prop Blake Lawrie is eager to earn a spot in the line-up against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Monday, June 13.
The local Dapto Canaries junior is presently sidelined with a broken thumb but is counting down the days until he is given the all-clear by Club medical staff to return to action.
Lawrie admits it has been challenging having to support his teammates from the stands but is hoping to make up for lost time when his opportunity comes.
“The injury to the thumb has just about healed so I should be available to play again after the Bye Round,” said Lawrie.
“Fortunately the rehabilitation has been fine and there were no setbacks so it is just a matter now of seeing the specialist next week to see if I’m given the all clear.
“I’m getting eager to go back out there and play, especially having to watch the boys from the sidelines in the more recent weeks.
“I was the only player in the rehabilitation sheds during one of our games but hopefully that changes ahead of the game against the Bulldogs.
“I had three weeks off after the surgery so the first thing I needed to do was build back-up my cardio which means a lot of running trying to get the kilometres back into my legs.
“I’ve eased back into the contact sessions but it has been a slow process.”