NRL: Lillyman and Luck making good progress

Jacob Lillyman. Photo / Greg Bowker.

The calvary isn't quite galloping in to help the Warriors but it is slowly gathering and they can expect both Micheal Luck and Jacob Lillyman to return to the playing field in the few weeks.

Luck had the cast on his broken hand removed this morning and is on target to return as scheduled later next month.

Lillyman has targeted the round nine match against the Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium on May 5 as a possible return date.

Lillyman tore his right bicep off the tendon at the elbow just 10 minutes into the first NRL trial game against the Gold Coast Titans in early February. He saw the surgeon on Wednesday and was told it was healing well and will see the specialist again in a fortnight when he might be given the go-ahead to resume contact training.

"It's been tough, especially after completing the whole pre-season," the 28-year-old said. "I was in really good shape. Just to have it happen in the first trial game was a huge disappointment and it took a few weeks to get over that. I got over the rough patch and there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel now."

The Warriors could do with Lillyman as they go through their own rough patch. Together with Luck, they have missed his experience, competitiveness and strong defence.

His form last season, when he played 26 of their 28 games, earned him a recall to the Queensland State of Origin side after a three-year absence and he was a key factor in the Warriors' run to last year's grand final.

It has made watching the side's inconsistent form this season that much more difficult.

"It's really frustrating," he said. "You can see what's going on and how you might be able to help out the situation but you're not able to. That's the hard part. Hopefully in a few weeks I will be able to help the boys out in any way I can.

"I think we have a very inexperienced side and I think it's showing. Last weekend, it was the basics that were letting us down - ball control, one-on-one tackles, missed tackles. That comes down to attitude a bit. Bluey [McClennan] is tweaking a few things. We have a good side and we're all confident we can turn it around. Hopefully when it happens we can get onto a good run."

They face a challenging proposition this weekend in the shape of Canberra. The Raiders share an identical record with the Warriors of two wins and three defeats - they are one point better off in points differential - but go into the game with a handful of injuries to key players like props Brett White and David Shillington.

Offsetting that is the fact the Warriors have won only once at Canberra Stadium (31-24 in 1997) while their only other success in Australia's national capital was a 22-10 win at Manuka Oval in 2001.

"It's a tough trip for any team," Lillyman said. "Luckily at this time of year it won't be too cold. It can get bitterly cold and it's a real dry cold and it burns the lungs more. They really muscle up at home. They are a physical side. But they have a couple of injuries now, so that's going to help. A lot of teams really struggle there."