KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Warriors are confident winger Michael Crockett will be able to put aside off-field controversy when he returns to the National Rugby League this weekend.
Crockett, charged on Monday with sexual assault arising from an alleged incident seven days earlier, is back in the starting line-up for trip to Canberra.
Having been given last week off, he sat out the win over the Gold Coast, before resuming training this week ahead of the match against the Raiders on Saturday night.
"He's fine - I wouldn't have picked him otherwise," coach Ivan Cleary said today.
"He's right to go and we're looking forward to him getting back out and doing what he does best."
Crockett, 24, came under police investigation in Sydney after a woman made a complaint of sexual assault.
The offence was alleged to have occurred after the Warriors' 31-31 draw with the Sydney Roosters and Crockett told his club that he strenuously denied any wrong-doing.
He flew to Sydney on Monday to be charged formally and was released on bail.
Club management are making no further comment on the case, saying it was now before the courts.
Cleary said Crockett was coping well with what he had been through.
"He's good actually, he's really good," he said.
"Last week was obviously a lot to go through, but we've been really happy with the way he's approached things. I'm confident he will really play well this week."
Crockett's inclusion is one of two changes Cleary has made to the 17 that beat Gold Coast 30-6 to keep the Warriors in fifth spot with three rounds to go.
The other is the return of in-form fullback Wade McKinnon, who missed the win over the Titans because of an ankle injury.
McKinnon resumed training yesterday and he ran for the first half of today's session.
Cleary said the injury was still troubling McKinnon but he was optimistic the player would be able to make the trip to Canberra.
"It's coming along each day," he said.
"We'll give him a few more days yet. We're still pretty hopeful."
McKinnon himself was upbeat about his chances to being fit in time, saying he was making good progress in his recovery.
"I should be sweet to play," he said.
"I'm running on it, which I couldn't do last week. I pulled up well after yesterday. I thought I would be a little stiff, but wasn't. I'm running well and done some speed work. It's good."
- NZPA
