If you thought Manu Vatuvei was labouring at times last weekend, he was. The big winger has been carrying a rib injury - although it did not stop him scoring a trademark try.
Vatuvei bruised his ribs in the win over the Roosters last weekend but the Warriors were loath
to remove him from the field while he could still run, even in a reduced capacity.
The injury left Vatuvei short of full pace, a problem compounded by his rehabilitation from hamstring and upper ankle injuries this season.
His freakish influence on the side over the last couple of years is evident in the results. Vatuvei has played eight games this season; the Warriors have lost two of those against the Titans (24-18) and Dragons (22-20).
Yet they have lost five out of six matches when he has been absent - the exception being the round 11 win over the Rabbitohs.
Last year, the Warriors lost every time Vatuvei did not play.
That influence is backed up by individual statistics. Vatuvei's 132 metres per game is fourth overall in the NRL for those who have played more than two games this season. He is fourth in line breaks and eighth in tackle breaks.
For the Warriors, he has the most tries (nine), leads the line breaks and is second to Brent Tate for offloads, despite missing six games.
Vatuvei says circumstances mean it has been a struggle lately, especially scoring his 74th minute try last week which had his hand pressure and little else on the ball for a split second before he was bundled into touch.
"I was sore in the weekend but got through the pain barrier. I was lucky to get over the line and surprised I didn't get pushed out easier by [Roosters wing and Kiwis team-mate] Sam Perrett. He must have let me through," Vatuvei jokes.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is realistic about his big wing's fitness and said he is stable but won't return to his best for a while.
"Manu just hasn't had the chance to get the necessary work in on his way back to full fitness. One plus is we know he has more to give. His power and strength is well documented but that try was still classy wing play."
Team doctor John Mayhew says Vatuvei should be fine to play the Eels today but is conscious of continuing his steady recovery from a hamstring tear earlier in the season.
"It's common for people with those types of injuries to be a bit tentative.
"He'll be aware of it psychologically and physically for the remainder of the season. There's a fatigue issue as well. When you have torn a muscle, it's never quite the same for a long period. But he's played the last three games and we're happy with his progress.
Mayhew dismisses talk Vatuvei is too far off full pace, saying he has recently been clocked running at 33km/h. To put that in context, Usain Bolt averaged 38km/h for his world record 9.58s 100m last year.
More important to the Warriors has been Vatuvei's stability in the tackle, such as when he scored the try.
"It takes some pressure off the forwards, that's part of my job," says Vatuvei.
"I just need to keep rehab-ing, doing the hamstring curls and other leg weights to strengthen things.
"I'm not bad on the single leg squat and the balancing exercises using the wobble board but I have lost some of my jumping ability.
"I try to use my height because I'm taller than most other wings but I'm having to work a bit harder."
As well as recovering from hamstring and ankle injuries, Manu Vatuvei is nursing bruised ribs. Photo / Getty Images
If you thought Manu Vatuvei was labouring at times last weekend, he was. The big winger has been carrying a rib injury - although it did not stop him scoring a trademark try.
Vatuvei bruised his ribs in the win over the Roosters last weekend but the Warriors were loath
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