NRL: Injured Warriors on road back for 2016 season

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson had two syndesmotic screws removed from his left ankle last week and is set to start running again later this month. Photo/Getty.

Injured Warriors Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson and Ben Henry are all on target to make a full return for the start of the 2016 NRL season.

Vatuvei is back running and is expected to resume full training early in 2016 after having surgery on the right shoulder that ended his 2015 season with four rounds still to go.

Henry played just four matches before having his year ended by another ACL knee injury while Leuluai suffered the same injury after appearing in 10 games. Both players are back running and are on track to return to full training early in the New Year.

Johnson's recovery is also on schedule. He had two syndesmotic screws removed from his left ankle last week and is set to start running again later this month.

Of the seven players on the rehab list only back rower Sione Lousi and 2015 Junior Warriors captain Toafofoa Sipley are expected to miss the start of the 2016 season.

Lousi is forecast to be out for four to six months after needing further surgery on a wrist injury which had troubled him during the season while Sipley, who needed a full knee reconstruction, will start running next month with a return date of February-March tipped.

Nathaniel Roache (pectoral), who played both NYC and New South Wales Cup football this year, will be back in full training next month.