Melbourne Storm centre Justin O'Neill returns from broken jaw while still eating through a straw Melbourne Storm's Justin O'Neill tries to bust his way through the Warriors defence. JUSTIN O'Neill tackled a bunch of New Zealand Warriors before his mended jaw was ready to tackle a steak, but the Melbourne Storm centre finished the Anzac Day clash confident he could again stick his head where most would not. The 22-year-old had a great start to the season, including an appearance in the All Stars game, before an errant elbow in Round 2 against North Queensland resulted in an operation on a broken jaw. O'Neill had three plates inserted and missed a month of football. He lost 6kg on a liquid diet before being thrust into action against the giants from New Zealand last week. He said he would have preferred a start in the NSW Cup first, just to take some contact, but came though the Warriors clash with confidence his jaw could chew down on some real food this week. It probably played on my mind a bit . . . I wasn't too sure how it was going to go. But it didn't bother (me) too much on the field and hasn't pulled up sore," O'Neill said yesterday. Speaking to the surgeon and the club doctor, we were on plan with when I was supposed to come back. I wanted maybe 40 or 60 minutes in the NSW Cup, just a game . . . I knew it would be playing on my mind. The confidence to go in to tackles, to put my head where it went last time and not worry, that was a struggle during the game. But I got through it and won't have to worry about it any more. O'Neill is back in time to continue his push for a State of Origin call-up after spending January in the emerging Queensland players' camp under Maroons coach Mal Meninga. I'm not thinking that far ahead. I have just got back in the team," O'Neill said. Earlier in the season I felt like I could have been a chance, but I just want to get back to the form I left in. Storm plays Canberra at AAMI Park on Saturday. The Raiders have suffered another injury blow with star centre Jarrod Croker out for 3-5 weeks with a knee injury. He joins Australian prop David Shillington and powerhouse back-rower Josh Papalii on the Raiders injury list. FORMER Storm premiership player Richie Fa'aoso faces a ban of up to 10 weeks after the Manly prop was cited for two lifting tackles on South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis in Friday's game. His Sea Eagles teammates also didn't escape punishment with centre Steve Matai facing a week on the sidelines for a grade one careless high tackle on George Burgess. And Manly fullback Brett Stewart can escape a suspension with an early guilty plea on a grade one dangerous contact charge for elbowing Rabbitohs winger Andrew Everingham.