Gun Storm duo Brandon Smith and Josh Addo-Carr have declared they will be ready for Saturday’s preliminary final against Penrith.
There were fears Smith may have suffered a facial fracture during Melbourne’s week-one finals win over Manly, but the hooker has confirmed he will be fit to go for the Penrith clash.
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Opening up on the injury that left him with a badly swollen face, Smith admitted that he originally believed his season was over.
“I had a little cry in the change rooms for a bit because they’d told me it was broken,” Smith said.
“When it happened it hurt but I didn’t think I had broken it.
“But the physios asked me what the symptoms were and I just said my face is numb.
“They thought that was a clear sign of a fracture.
“Everything was sweet when they were pushing it, but if it was fractured and I went back out there and did damage I could’ve done serious damage.
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“It wasn’t good signs but I couldn’t go out there moping around and feeling sorry for myself. The team wouldn’t have wanted that.”
Meanwhile, Addo-Carr, who hasn’t played since Round 24 due to a hamstring injury, is confident he will be ready to suit up.
“I’m up to about 95 per cent running, so I’ll be sweet,” he said.