Scott says time on sideline will pay off in long run

MATT Scott believes his injury- enforced absence can help his NRL career as the Maroons and Cowboys enforcer takes his first steps to redemption next season.

Scott, who required a knee reconstruction after snapping his ACL just two games into the 2017 season, ran for the first time on Tuesday in a major boost for the Cowboys and Queensland.

The 31- year- old remains no hope of turning out for Australia at the World Cup starting in October, but Scott is determined to add to his 22 games for Queensland in 2018 after his Origin wipeout.

While the reality is some players never fully recover from a knee reconstruction, Scott is confident his long stint on the sidelines can revitalise his body after 14 seasons in the NRL.

“I’m feeling good. I’m not quite up to Origin standard but I’m back on the ( training) field and started running,” Scott said on Fox Sports’ Sterlo program.

“The knee is improving. It’s a slow process you have to go through, players who have had an ACL injury know what it’s like. To be honest, it’s been good for the rest of my body. I’ve been able to refresh and look after other parts of my body and down the track, it will do my footy a lot of good.”

Scott is happiest when he is charging through the rucks, but says time alongside Cowboys mentor Paul Green in the coaching box has given him a new perspective on the game.

The Cowboys were close to losing Scott earlier this season when Newcastle tabled a lucrative $ 2 million deal. The veteran of 233 first- grade games admits he seriously considered quitting the Cowboys before agreeing to a two- year extension.

“I was close to leaving at stage,” he said. “Negotiations one are funny things, they stall and then they can go fast.

“At one stage when I wasn’t talking to the Cowboys that much, Newcastle was looking like a great offer but as soon as the Cowboys came to the party, I was more than comfortable with staying.

“I love it up there. I love the club and being a one- club player was always a focus of mine.

“I get frustrated very easily ( on the sidelines as a spectator). But I’ve at least enjoyed sitting in the box with ‘ Greeny’ and seeing the coaching side of things and looking at the game from a different perspective.”