Wests Tigers NRL star Chris Lawrence is back running less than three months after dislocating his hip - but remains a long way off a comeback.

Lawrence, who would have been in the frame for NSW State of Origin selection after a red-hot start to the season, was told his career hung in the balance after suffering the freak injury in round three against Canberra.

Watching the 22-year-old, who made his Kangaroos debut against New Zealand last year, being put through his paces by the Tigers' medical team at Concord Oval on Friday would have been a sight for sore eyes for any supporter of the joint venture.

Despite showing few signs of discomfort as he ran at half-speed, the classy centre maintained he was a long way from returning to action.

"I've got no idea when I'll be back. It's still very early days, but it is nice to be running again," Lawrence told AAP.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens also expressed caution against expecting a return anytime soon, due to the severity and unexpected nature of the injury.

"He is doing a little bit. It is his first week of light running, but it is good to see him progressing," Sheens said.

"He's not particularly ahead of schedule, and a schedule is difficult to predict with this kind of injury as it's so uncommon.

"Some players have taken 12 months to recover, some have taken less, so you can't say 'I know of 10 players with this type of injury, who have come back in six weeks', so it's a case of wait and see with Chris."

Sheens said he expected Lawrence to experience some mental scars upon his return and played down any prospect of seeing him in action this season.

"The mental side of things will be part of it when he does come back to playing but, at the moment, it is just all about the physical side," Sheens said.

"It is about him getting back to full training, then developing match fitness, then worrying about the mental side of it when he plays his first 80 minutes. But that is a long way away."

Meanwhile, veteran Tigers prop Todd Payten, 32, announced on Friday he would hang up his boots at the end of the season.

Payten started his career with Canberra and joined the club after a season with Sydney Roosters.

Part of the Tigers 2005 grand final-winning side, he has made 253 first grade appearances in the NRL.

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