Lucas races clock as Saturday deadline looms for comeback call

Dylan Lucas’ brave bid to return from a fractured ankle suffered in Round 21 has given Knights coach Justin Holbrook a selection headache he didn't expect to be facing.

Lucas was expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering the gruesome injury against the Roosters on July 24 - a horror night for the club which saw playmaker Dylan Brown do his ACL as well.

But Lucas has defied expectations to put himself in contention for Sunday’s sudden-death semi against the Warriors at Eden Park, with Holbrook praising the forward’s resilience and determination throughout his recovery.

“Everyone trained well. Obviously Dyl Lucas is the one we will see how he pulls up, and we won’t make a decision on him until Saturday,” Holbrook said.

“Credit to the medical staff and Dylan. The day he got injured he wanted to fast-track himself and do everything right.

“If he gets there on Sunday, we’ll all be happy for Dyl.”

Lucas’ potential return would provide a major boost for the Knights but it would also leave the coach with a difficult decision after Francis Manuleleua and Jermaine McEwen have done an excellent job filling the void on the edges.

McEwen forced his way into the side during pre-season, while Manuleleua has made the most of his opportunity since Lucas’ injury.

“If I go all the way back to pre-season, they had a lot to work on and to their credit they have done that,” Holbrook said.

“Jermaine, from the start of the year, forced his way in, and now Francis, with his opportunity, has been outstanding for us.

“Both our back-rowers are doing a great job. We need them again to do that again Sunday. It's a bigger test again and I'm sure they will.”

For Holbrook, seeing players push to return from serious injuries and compete for their positions is a reflection of the culture developing within the group.

“It’s great as a coach to have players fighting to come back onto the field,” he said.

“It’s what you want to see with your group, and the boys are doing it.”

After overcoming South Sydney in an elimination final, Newcastle now faces a Warriors side on home soil, with Holbrook embracing the underdog tag once again.

“A lot of people thought we wouldn’t beat Souths, we did, and it’s similar again this week,” he said.

“But it’s different. You do get confidence, you have to be confident this time of year, but it’s a different challenge, a different game and different conditions.

“We’re confident that if we go over there and play well, we can get the win.”