The prospect of Dylan Lucas making a remarkable return to the Newcastle Knights is on the horizon, with reports suggesting he could play as soon as next weekend.
After suffering a serious ankle injury in Round 21, there was doubt he would return to the field this season. However, journalist Barry Toohey from the Newcastle Herald notes that Lucas is now a "big chance to be named" in the team facing the New Zealand Warriors next Sunday.
Originally, Lucas's injury, which occurred during a match against the Sydney Roosters on July 24, led to expectations he wouldn't return until 2027 after surgery.
If Lucas plays, he could set a new NRL record for the quickest recovery from a severe ankle injury, surpassing the previous record of 10 weeks held by Aidan Guerra since 2019, according to NRL Physio Brien Seeney.
Nonetheless, being named to play doesn't guarantee his appearance on the field, as seen with Roosters player Angus Crichton recently.
Should the Knights succeed in Auckland, Lucas's return could be a real possibility, creating further prospects for him to be included in Kevin Walters' Kangaroos squad for the 2026 World Cup later this year.