The Liam Farrell Column: I've had green light to start playing again

Hopefully I’ll be playing again before the end of the season.I went to see the specialist earlier this week and as optimistic as I was, I’d been told shoulder injuries like mine could be complicated.But the specialist was satisfied the bone has heeled and said I was okay to start full contact – I was buzzing when I left the room.The plan, now, is to bash me about a bit and see how I hold up! I’ve not played since July and so I’m looking forward to getting back into it properly.Hopefully I can do enough to get back into the side – either for the visit of Hull FC next week, or the semi-final – but that’s obviously going to be Waney’s call. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Mentioning injuries, it was disappointing that Willie Isa is going to miss the rest of the season with a broken collarbone.Willie’s approach to training and playing is incredible, and he’s a real role model for our younger players in terms of just how professional he is. He’s also very selfless and, while we’re allthinking of him, he’ll want us to go out there and make sure we finish the season on a high – and I think we’re certainly capable of doing that.Our win against Warrington last Friday was our sixth in a row, and it was great to see Dom Manfredi return the way he did. Yes, last week, I’d said not to expect too much for him, but it looked as if he hadn’t been away. We head to Huddersfield tonight and I’ve heard people saying there’s nothing riding on this, but that’s not how we’re approaching it. We still need one win to secure second place and, with it, a home semi-final spot – and that’s what all our focus is on. Games over there are often tough and this should be no different. Finally, the changes to the Super League structure were voted through last week.I’d said beforehand I’d prefer a return to the old format.I have some sympathy for the Championship clubs because the standard of their competition has improved, but it’s probably not been to Super League’s benefit, having the Qualifiers. While I like the promotion and relegation aspect, there was something about the Million Pound Game which never sat well with me.