He’s the Narromine-born hardman who spent time away from the game to work in the mines and now Josh Mann-Rea has been backed to utilise all that toughness in a comeback from a horror injury.
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Mann-Rea's Super Rugby’s season has ended in injury heartbreak after the 37-year-old's body was twisted awkwardly two weeks ago, shattering his campaign after just three games.
The ACT Brumbies hooker will have surgery this week to reattach his hamstring to the bone, ruling him out of action for up to six months.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was adamant Mann-Rea could make an impact as a 38-year-old next year.
"If anyone has the resilience to get through, it's Josh," McKellar told The Canberra Times.
If anyone has the resilience to get through, it's Josh.
- Dan McKellar
"And he knows we will back him 100 per cent to come back so we're focused on getting him right for the National Rugby Championship now."
Mann-Rea, who has two caps for the Wallabies, walked away from the game in 2007 to work in the mines and spend time with his family but has been a popular figure at the Brumbies ever since returning to the squad.
While Mann-Rea is now out for the season, the Brumbies have been boosted by the news David Pocock is set to make a return from injury.
"I hope [Pocock is ready for the Waratahs], he's just got to get through a full week of training next week. But he'll be available for selection most likely," McKellar said.
"It's just a full week of training, contact and all of that. He's done some progressions at this point in time which is controlled, but a little bit more chaos in terms of what he's doing in and around the collision area.
"All signs are positive at this point in time. I think his presence around the group over the last eight weeks has been great as well, but to have him ready to play would be a big lift."
