Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith has confirmed new recruit Nene Macdonald will not be fit for the start of the season. The close-season signing from Leigh Leopards was sidelined after suffering a quad muscle injury playing for Papua New Guinea against England in the World Cup quarter-final three months ago.
At Christmas, Smith rated him “touch and go” to face Warrington Wolves in Rhinos’ season opener next Thursday, but has now admitted he will not be ready.
“I think the last ten or twelve times somebody has asked me where Nene is at I've said he won't play round one,” said Smith. “To me it's almost never been touch and go, maybe initially but it's one of those injuries where most surgeons or specialists or great physios will say ten to twelve or twelve to fourteen [weeks].
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“He's flying with what he's been asked to do in training but it's just a staged progression and he hasn't done the work to be ready for round one so he won't be playing in round one.”
Smith is keen not to rush the centre’s recovery, adding: “Again, if there was one game to go in the season, he'd play. He's close, but he's ready when he's ready.”
Macdonald’s absence is a major blow with fellow centre Harry Newman also set to miss the first few weeks of the campaign as he continues his recovery from hamstring surgery.
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