How Wayne Bennett feels about a late, late South Sydney return for Cameron Murray

“I’m not pushing him or prodding him to come back. If that’s the reward he wants to give himself for what he has put in … just after the operation, he had an infection, which set him back as well. His courage is unbelievable. The way he has worked so hard, I’m in his hands.

“Whatever decision he makes will be after he’s spoken with the medical staff.

“He won’t play if the medical staff aren’t confident, but they are at the moment, and everything is tracking well. None of us want to see him not play if he is fit to play. It’s important to him.”

If Murray does return, and with the Kangaroos thin on forwards, especially with several Origin players to defect to Samoa and Tonga, the 27-year-old would be a handy selection for new coach Kevin Walters.

Murray loves the Kangaroos’ jersey – he even played a Test with a wrist injury, which disrupted most of his pre-season – but he is only focused on clubland.

“It means a lot for him to play for Australia, but he’s not trying to come back for that reason,” Bennett said.

“He wants to reward himself for nine months of rehab. Even if it’s just a couple of games, it’s a game he loves, and it’s something he hasn’t been able to do. That’s his psyche more than anything else.”

Bennett said 11 players were now unavailable, including Cody Walker (hamstring), Campbell Graham (back), Bud Sullivan (leg) and Mitchell (hamstring), who Bennett said would return for the round-23 clash against Gold Coast.

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Prop Keaon Koloamtangi also broke down with an ankle injury last week against Penrith, while Peter Mamouzelos failed a HIA minutes later in the same game. Then halfback Jamie Humphreys suffered a concussion attempting a try in one of the final plays of the game, and failed testing afterwards.

Humphreys’ omission has paved the way for Lewis Dodd to finally wear the No. 7 jersey, with Bennett happy for the Englishman’s football to do the talking.