Given all the incredible charitable work he does off the field, Storm veteran Christian Welch deserves a slice of good luck in 2023, with the prop confident he’ll be fit for Melbourne’s Round 1 clash against Parramatta.
Welch played just one game last season and missed the rest of the campaign after he suffered a serious achilles injury in the opening round against the Wests Tigers.
He tried to make a late return but the emotional and physical toll of the injury were too much, with Welch sidelined with his third serious injury in six years following ACL tears in 2017 and 2019.
The Origin representative was distraught after last year’s cruel diagnosis but is on track to return for the season opener against the Eels as he and a number of teammates attempt to overcome injuries in time for the game.
Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is in the US trying to get his body right after several serious injuries, while a number of World Cup players have also been part of an expensive rehab group that has earnt a fitting nickname.
