6 Mar 2013

Johnson recovers to play in Warriors season opener

11:35 am on 6 March 2013

The halfback Shaun Johnson has recovered from his elbow injury and been named in the Warriors starting lineup for the side's National Rugby League season opener against the Paramatta Eels in Sydney on Saturday evening.

The 22-year-old playmaker injured his elbow in the Warriors pre-season win over the Brisbane Broncos in Dunedin a week and a half ago.

He was expected to be out for three to four weeks but coach Matthew Elliott says he was always optimistic Johnson would be ready to play in the season opener.

Making their first NRL appearances for the club will be the 2012 Melbourne grand final-winning duo of centre Dane Nielsen and prop Todd Lowrie.