McMillan shared a positive update on the injury front following the Chiefs’ 27-15 victory over the Queensland Reds in Friday’s wet-weather clash, a result that saw his side reclaim top spot at the midway stage of the Super Rugby season.
Rising All Blacks star Sititi, who underwent knee surgery in January after a standout debut international season, had initially been expected to miss the entirety of the Super Rugby campaign, casting doubt over his availability for the July Test series against France.
Sititi’s breakout performances earned him World Rugby’s “Breakthrough Player of the Year” accolade, but his recovery timeline was uncertain.
Now, McMillan says the 22-year-old is ahead of schedule.
“He’s progressing really well and is nearly back into full training,” McMillan said. “He hasn’t had any full-contact sessions yet, so we need to be cautious and make sure he ticks all the boxes.
“But based on where he’s at, he could be available within the next month—which is much sooner than we first thought.”
The Chiefs’ win was their sixth in seven matches, propelling them past the Reds, who recorded their second defeat of the season.
Although both sides managed three tries apiece, the difference came down to goalkicking. Queensland failed to convert any of their tries, while Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie was flawless with the boot, converting all three tries and adding two penalty goals in the tough conditions.
