Beale's back with sights set on game 200

Warriors utility Gerard Beale said the shutdown due to the coronavirus had one silver lining - it ensured he returned to full fitness following the fourth serious leg injury of his career.

The 30-year-old has recuperated from the broken kneecap he suffered against the Roosters in round 22 last year.

He was on the verge of making his return when the pandemic hit.

The extra weeks have only further strengthened his left leg that has copped a battering so far in his career – two knee reconstructions, a broken tibia and fibula, and then the shattered kneecap.

He has used his time training in Tamworth to impress coach Stephen Kearney and earn a spot in the backline for the May 30 match against the Dragons.

"I'm really good. I had got clearance to play round two but just before the season got suspended I was ready to jump back in. That obviously got put on hold," Beale said on Monday.

In his 25 games over two seasons with the Warriors, Beale has played mainly centre and wing. But he played some fullback for both the Dragons and the Sharks during previous stops in his career.

With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck safely ensconced at No.1, Beale - capped 11 times by New Zealand - is searching for another spot in the backline.

"I actually feel better than what I did before I got injured, which sounds weird," Beale said.

"But when you get injured you get to work on a lot of areas [in rehab] so physically I feel strong. My confidence is up there so it's more up to the coaching staff in the what they think and how they want to approach it.

"But I'm keen as. I'm ready to jump in there. I suppose my ideal position is centre so that's where I'm trying to leave my footprint."

It's taken longer than he would have liked, but Beale is closing in on the 200-game milestone. After making his debut for Brisbane in 2009, he sits on 187 games in his 12th year in the NRL.

That match may come at Central Coast Stadium - one of the venues in the running to host matches when the season resumes.

The Warriors will make the NSW regional city of Gosford their base later this week.

"We're going to be based around Gosford so it'd be good to play at that stadium to minimise our travel time," Beale said.

"So that would be good for us. I'd prefer that, but like everything it's happening so quickly and a lot of things are out of teams' control. We'll just wait and see."