Boland back after pre-season injury

Redcliffe Dolphins forward Jarrett Boland will make his return to the rugby league field this weekend, with the towering prop set to play his first game of the year through the BRL.

Boland, who suffered tears in both his Achilles and calf during a pre-season trial against Ipswich, has been cleared for his long-awaited comeback, with the 27-year-old champing at the bit to play.

He will make his return through the BRL – coming up against Wynnum Seagulls on Saturday – as he works to get minutes under his belt.

“I’m really, really excited,” Boland said.

“It’s been a long time. It just feels like it’s been the world’s longest pre-season.

“You know, 13 weeks since the first trial and then pre-season on top of that, I’m really just itching to get back out there.

“I want to just get through minutes. Just get through uninjured, blow the cobwebs out… be ready to go again the next week, string a few games together.”

After completing a full pre-season with the Hostplus Cup squad, his injury against the Jets was devastating.

But he said with the support of his teammates and the coaching staff at Redcliffe, he has been able to stay focused and positive on the comeback trail.

“I got a couple of little tears in my Achilles and calf, and – being a tendon with not a lot of blood flow – it just sort of has taken a long time,” he said.

“But Michael Walsh put me under his wing and he’s got me doing everything and with the physios and everything, it’s been tracking pretty nicely.

“It’s always frustrating (to be injured) and I think it’s arrogant to say that you don’t have your down moments.

“But when you come to training and there’s 25 of your best mates hanging around, it’s pretty easy to get up three or four times a week and do what you need to do for a couple of hours and sort it all out.”

Boland is unsure at this stage how many minutes he will aim to get through or how long he will play at the BRL level.

Heading into Saturday, he will just do what he can to put his best foot forward and build his fitness, and in time, he will push for his place back in the Cup 17.

“We come here, this is the team you want to play for, this is the jersey you want to put on, this is the emblem you want to have over your chest,” Boland said.

“Everyone wants to play Cup for the Dolphins, so that’s always the goal.”