Kane Evans has had to wait longer than expected to justify his signing, but the new recruit’s return to fitness could not have come at better time for the Warriors.
With the Kiwi NRL outfit depleted upfront due to injury and suspension, Evans is finally set to make his club debut off the bench in Friday night’s round five clash against Manly on the NSW Central Coast.
The former Roosters and Eels prop was one of the Warriors’ heavyweight off-season signings alongside injured enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake and Ben Murdoch-Masila. However, a knee injury picked up in last year’s penultimate game for Parramatta disrupted his preparation for the current campaign.
Forced to build his match-fitness in the Queensland Cup, Evans started the season with feeder club Redcliffe before the recent Covid-19 lockdown in Brisbane prevented players from travelling interstate.
But after the Warriors managed to organise him and teammate Pride Petterson-Robati a run for Newcastle’s NSW Cup team last week, Evans declared himself ready to go.
“There’s a lot of emotions going through me at the moment, I’m excited to be able to represent the Warriors,” said Evans, who made 150 metres off 12 hit-ups in the Knights’ reserve grade’s big win over the Dragons.
“It wasn’t the best start to the season for me individually being injured, but it’s a long season and I can’t wait to prove I’m a good investment for this club.
“The guys who are injured are a great bunch of lads, but we’ve also got good depth and I’m ready to showcase my talent and work hard for the jersey.”
