Discussions with Sydney Roosters' Jared Waerea-Hargreaves about his playing future are on the backburner until mid-season, with coach Trent Robinson impressed by the enforcer's early output.
Many thought 2023 would be a last hurrah for the 34-year-old Waerea-Hargreaves, who will be key to the Roosters' challenge against the Storm in Melbourne on Thursday night.
But after injury setbacks, Waerea-Hargreaves has played the last two games and has been among the Roosters' best.
Robinson said it was too early to make a call on whether the prop would play on.
"You're not sure at that age, he's two games into 2023 and he looks fresh," Robinson said.
"He looks as healthy as he's ever looked since I've had him and he's 34, so the question is whether he can continue that.
"At the moment, we're trying to get the best out of him for this year and then that discussion can come later down the track when we're in the middle of this season."
Robinson said it would be a joint decision between the Kiwi international and the club, who are under salary-cap pressure and have signed Penrith's Spencer Leniu for 2024.
"You've got some players that know when it's time and sometimes you've got players that don't know when it's time. Sometimes you need to assist players in that," Robinson said.
"So we'll have that discussion when the time warrants it ... and we'll work out whether his motivation is still there for the following year."
Waerea-Hargreaves was at his brutal best the last time the Roosters and the Storm met, in round 24 last season, with a running battle with his Test teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona a highlight.
He ended up in the sin-bin as the Roosters hung on for a four-point win.
The game will be robbed of a repeat clash with Asofa-Solomona out with a knee injury but Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy expected Waerea-Hargreaves to again fire up.
"He made a big difference to them the last time he was here so he'd be looking to the same again," Bellamy said.
"He played really well last week - he led them really well, he just seems to be a bit ageless Jared.
"He's always been a good player. He's one of those players you'd like to have in your team."
Bellamy said it had taken a while for his team to adjust to losing experienced forward trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, and Felise Kaufusi.
"It put a bit of a hole in our side but the guys who have come in are doing a really good job," he said.
"We're just lacking a little bit of combination at times and that's hard to replicate in training. But last week they really put a big effort in and hopefully they can keep improving."
