CHASE Stanley played about 70 minutes in the NSW Cup as he continues his climb back into NRL contention.
A shoulder injury has limited Stanley’s game time but he made his comeback playing right centre for the Illawarra Cutters in their 56-28 win against Mounties on Saturday.
Stanley was replaced late in the game by coach Paul McGregor as a way of slowly reintroducing him to competitive rugby league.
‘‘He hasn’t played a lot of football during the past two years,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘His presence and approach to the game was excellent and he gives as an X-factor.
‘‘We gave him a spell in the last 10 minutes because of fatigue and the amount of football he has played in the past couple of years but he pulled
up fine.’’
The Hurstville United junior has not played NRL since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing for the Melbourne Storm in round one last year.
He returned to the Dragons this year in the hope of replacing the retired Mark Gasnier.
‘‘For Chase it’s just about getting minutes under him so he can get his confidence back,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘When you’re a talented player you don’t lose your talent and his talent is still there.
‘‘Realistically he should be playing NRL in not too long but he probably needs to play 80 minutes for me before playing a full game in the NRL.’’
Meanwhile, Chase’s brother Kyle is expected to overcome a hamstring strain that kept him out of last Wednesday’s win against Sydney Roosters.
In NSW Cup action the Cutters were boosted by the inclusion of NRL-contracted players including Jack De Belin, Bronx Goodwin, Leeson Ah Mau, Atelea Vea, Denan Kemp, Jake Marketo and David Gower as they put on 10 tries against Canberra’s feeder club.
‘‘When we’ve had eight or more NRL players we’ve won all three games,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘We haven’t been competing for 80 minutes and that comes with being a new club.
‘‘The non full-time players are very committed and have got a great attitude, but it is difficult when you come up against sides with the majority of players full-time, if not all of them.’’
The Cutters have been boosted by former South Sydney and Parramatta halfback Jeremy Smith.
‘‘He had no pre-season under him so it was always going to take time for Jeremy to show his full array of tricks,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘On the weekend he showed why he is such a quality player and was the best player on the park by a long way.’’
The Cutters host Wentworthville Magpies on Saturday.
