New Zealand Warriors forward Russell Packer to miss early part of season Russell Packer tries to break free of the Panthers defence. WARRIORS monster Russell Packer will miss up to four matches of the NRL season after undergoing radical surgery on an ongoing bicep problem. The prop forward is expected to miss 2-4 weeks of the regular season with new Warriors coach Matthew Elliott prepared to give him all the time he needs to reach full fitness before returning to the NRL. The 23-year-old Kiwi International was forced to go under the knife Thursday last week with an ongoing shoulder issue causing complications and increasing the strain on his bicep. The incredible new surgery involved Packer's bicep being completely lifted off and re-attached to the shoulder and elbow joints. Elliott said his expected return could come at the perfect time to provide relief for his forward pack early in the season. ``We're going to give him the opportunity to get himself fully right," Elliott said. ``If it's not round three it'll be round four or five. We've got some pretty handy props at the club, we'd be ridiculous to over-push him to get out there when he's not 100 per cent fit and he's got that luxury. ``We can look at it as a bonus because he'll come back online for us about a month into the season. Sometimes that's just about perfect timing when you've got players that could use a break. Elliot said Packer's unique surgery is the first of its kind he has seen in his 17 seasons of coaching in rugby league. ``He had a shoulder issue and they were waiting for it to heal itself and it didn't," he said. ``The procedure he had went really well. It ended up being a lot more minor than they originally thought. ``They actually took the bicep off and re-attached it. Apparently it went spot on. Packer is able to start running next week, but will spend more time building strength in his upper body after being unable to complete a full upper body work out before the surgery.