Leeds Rhinos youngster Stevie Ward is available for selection again after overcoming a shoulder injury sustained last April against Hull KR.
However, the 20-year-old believes he may have to wait a while to return to senior action, despite rumours he could be selected in Brian McDermott’s 19-man squad for Sunday’s match against the team that injured him.
“I am fit and ready to go now,” he said.
“Mac [Brian McDermott] will have to make a call and I will understand if he decides to go with people who have played in pre-season.
“It might be a bit of a risk from his side of things to put me straight in, so he might decide to keep an eye on me and see how I go over the next couple of weeks.
“If things stay the same, I could play for Hunslet when they start [on March 2].
“I will just keep training hard and keep motivated to try and get back in the Rhinos side.
“I would be happy to play for Hunslet if required.
“I know a few of the lads down there, who used to be at Leeds and I know Danny Maun through family as well.
“He is a good player who has gone down there. I definitely would not mind going to Hunslet and having a game there.”
Despite the chances of starting his season in Championship 1, Ward is confident in his ability and claims he is ready when the coach is.
“I have got confidence in myself. I am happy with the training I’ve done and I am confident I would be able to do a job, whenever I get a call or the team needs me to go in.
“It’s feeling really good, really strong. It [the shoulder] has been strong in the gym and also with tackling.
“I am really happy with it and the cuff scores I have been doing have been looking really good.
“I am itching to get back out there. It has been a long time since I last played and it’s funny that it was Hull KR away when I did it. It might be a blessing in disguise if I don’t turn out there, but I am not looking at that. I would love to play, but all I can do is be motivated to get back in the side and see where it takes me.”
