NRL: No quick return for Tuqiri

Lote Tuqiri says he wants to allow his injury to heal properly. Photo / Richard Robinson

Lote Tuqiri will not fast-track his NRL return from a broken arm, despite the indifferent form of Wests Tigers.

The Tigers have lost three of their past four NRL clashes, including being comprehensively beaten 31-18 by Brisbane on Friday night, and could be without Tuqiri for a further five weeks.

Tuqiri's right arm, broken in the round three victory over Canberra, remains heavily strapped.

The dreadlocked winger said his likely return date won't be until round 11 against Penrith at Campbelltown Stadium - meaning the Tigers will have to dig themselves out of a hole without him.

"It's going alright ... I've been running this week, it's just frustrating because you can do pretty much everything else but contact work is obviously out of the question," he told AAP.

"I'm raring to go and I want to be back ASAP but I'm at least two to three weeks away from contact work, so I'm hoping to be back in five weeks.

"I'd love to be back before then, but I've got to bide my time, do the work and let the bone heal properly ... It's not something you want to push.

"I've spoken to people who have broken their arms before and had plates inserted before, and they say it's all good and strong, but there's certain parts of your arm - especially where the bone meets the plate - that can re-break, so you really need to let it run its course."

The return date is also likely to end his chance of returning for one last State of Origin series alongside the retiring Darren Lockyer.

"I'm not really thinking about that, I was at the start of the year but at the moment I just want to get myself right and get back on the field," he said.

"Hopefully, fingers crossed, I can get back in beforehand and be back in time for Origin, you never know.

"But I can't really afford to think too much about it really, especially when I need to get back and help the Tigers."

Tuqiri added that he hoped the Tigers could turn things around in the short-term so that when members of their bulging injury ward start to return, they can make a charge at the title.

"It's been frustrating (watching the team struggle with injuries)," he said.

"We're not going too well on the injury front but hopefully the boys can do well for us and hopefully by the time we get back, the club is in a good position to make a run into the top eight."

- AAP