Ottio is back

By MELTON PAIS
KUMUL centre Kato Ottio has been passed fit to play in the Auckland 9s in February after successfully recovering from a major knee surgery.
Ottio was originally considered for a return to action for his NRL club the Canberra Raiders well after March’s kickoff but the 22-year-old managed to recover much better than expected from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered while playing for the Mounties in the NSW Cup last August.
The Raiders recruit, who is in the third week of pre-season training with Ricky Stuart’s team represented the club at the display of uniforms for the Feb 4-5 pre-season tournament yesterday at the Heros and Legends Meuseum, Rugby League Central, Sydney.
A post on the Raiders Twitter page, stated that Ottio was doing well and was back in full training.
The former SP Hunters back-rower made a successful transition from the Queensland Cup to the NSW Cup this year topping the Mounties try-scoring list with 29 tries playing on the right wing until his injury.
Ottio is no stranger to the Auckland 9s having been picked in the Raiders squad to New Zealand last year.
He scored a try against St George Illawarra in pool match as well as setting up another in a solid showing at Eden Park.
With the departure of Brenko Lee to the Canterbury Bulldogs, the 191cm tall Ottio is the next cab off the rank for Stuart in terms of outside backs to cover for starters Jordan Rapana and Edrick Lee on the wings or Joey Leilua and Jarrod Croker in the centres in 2017.
Barring injury and a dip in form,  Ottio is likely to make his long awaited NRL debut at some point in the new season.
Ottio took time out during his recovery last October to visit family and friends in Port Moresby. He stayed three weeks before returning to the Australian Capital Territory.
Kumul and Hunters coach Michael Marum said he was impressed with the rate of Ottio’s recovery after it was initally thought he would need up to eight months to recover.
“He’s done really well to get back to full training. The rehab he’s had has obviously been very good if it means he’s fit to play at the Auckland 9s,” Marum said.
The lanky Bougainville and Central man’s hopes to being picked for the Kumuls World Cup squad next October are excellent provided he keeps his 2016 form and improves on the weak areas of his game.