Should Souths risk bringing Cam Murray? Wayne Bennett has his say
But Bennett has no plans of doing that, and if Murray is fit, says he will welcome his late cameo which is a reward for the hard work he has put in behind the scenes the past nine months.
Bennett has been in coaching 40 years and admitted he had never experienced an injury toll like the one that has rocked the Bunnies this year, which included a Wednesday training run in February when Murray and Latrell Mitchell went down within a couple of minutes of each other.
Murray has ramped up his running loads in recent weeks, and is desperate to return, provided he gets the all clear from the medical team.
Working towards playing a game in August is much easier to keep working hard, opposed to waiting until next March.
There is no desire to get back for the sake of putting himself in the shop window to be selected for Australia's Ashes series – but simply a case of giving himself a short-term goal of playing some competitive football with his teammates who have sorely missed him.
'If it's important for Cam to play a couple of games at the end of the season, he can do that – I won't spoil it for him,' said Bennett, whose team host Cronulla on Saturday night in Gosford.
'There is a chance he'll play before the season finishes. He's done a remarkable job with his recovery.... I'll do what he wants to do. He's worked so hard to be a part of the team again.
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