NRL: Scan clears Vatuvei of leg fracture

Manu Vatuvei smiles after the Warriors' winning performance against the Cowboys. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors are relieved to learn that a CT scan today showed there is no fracture to winger Manu Vatuvei's left leg.

Vatuvei, who was returning from a lay-off with a hamstring injury, was troubled by a left leg injury after being caught in a gang tackle 14 minutes into Saturday's National Rugby League match against North Queensland, which the Warriors won 24-12.

"Manu had a CT scan this afternoon which, like the x-ray we had done on Saturday night, showed no sign of a fracture," club doctor John Mayhew said in a statement today.

"That means it's all good news so far but, if the leg doesn't settle down, we may need to look at having an MRI scan done later in the week."

Vatuvei missed several games in 2008 with a spiral fracture in his left fibula.

While the Warriors may miss Vatuvei, they should welcome skipper Simon Mannering back for Sunday's home match against the Rabbitohs.

Mannering who has missed a number of games because of a hamstring injury was originally named to play North Queensland but pulled out late last week because he didn't believe he had recovered sufficiently.

Coach Ivan Cleary rated Mannering as a virtual certainty to lead the Warriors against South Sydney, and the second rower agreed he's on target to start.

"I'm as close as I can be to 100 per cent," he said.

"I trained most of last week, but I just wasn't quite there. I think it was the best to miss that one and come in ready for the next game."

Mannering, 23, has now sat out for seven weeks, a stretch that included the Kiwis' Anzac test in Melbourne 10 days ago.

He first suffered the hamstring injury in January and it forced him out of contention for the Warriors' three pre-season trials, as well as the opening round defeat to Gold Coast.

He made his debut as the club's new skipper the following week, leading the Warriors to victory over Cronulla.

However, in the next round and the win over Brisbane, he lasted only until midway through the first half, pounding the ground after the injury flared up again as he was scoring a try.

"This is the first hammy I've ever done and it's the last one I want to do," he said.

"It's very, very frustrating."

- NZPA