Tupou on cusp of NRL return

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan says he is still weighing up whether Anthony Tupou will make his NRL return from a broken jaw against Canterbury on Sunday.

The experienced back-rower’s season was almost ended after having four metal plates surgically inserted into his jaw after copping a knee to the head from rampaging Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell in May.

Flanagan said Tupou was exhibiting no mental demons from the devastating injury and had trained strongly during contact sessions this week.

He said if he did not return against the Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground, he would be right to face the Warriors the following week.

Flanagan also confirmed Ben Barba was a definite starter against his former club after being rested last week because of a knee injury.

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