Injury gave me a chance to rethink
THE worst part about missing games is the feeling of helplessness, especially after I didn’t miss any though injury last year.
But watching on for the first two rounds with a stomach injury has given me a chance to see how best I can fit in when I return tonight against Melbourne.
With JT back this year, I’ve been able to look at what my best role is and what I need to do at certain times of the game.
There’s been plenty of chatter about a perceived over- reliance on JT and Matt Scott in last week’s loss to Brisbane.
It hasn’t been a specific focus, but the only big difference from last year’s run to the grand final is those two have come back from injury. It’s about everyone else still doing what we did last year, taking care of our own roles and being accountable for it.
The rest of the team hasn’t played with our co- captains for a while which makes it difficult, but it shouldn’t take too long at all to click.
Last year’s grand final loss to the Storm may be motivation for some guys, but it’s basically done and dusted. They’re always a team you want to challenge yourself against regardless and it would be nice to get a win because of what unfolded last October, but that’s not going to make up for losing a grand final.
There’s been much made of Melbourne’s unexpected loss to the Tigers last week and it’s not an ideal time to play them, but the same can be said about us.
We like to think it’s a tough time to get us too, because we want to bounce back after we weren’t happy with a number of areas of our game against the Broncos.
I’ve been trying my utmost to play the last two weeks, but haven’t pulled up well after contact work. But going into the main session this week, it did feel better than it had the previous two weeks. I’m very confident I’ll have no issues getting through the match. I’m looking forward to playing again, and want to have an impact.
Former Melbourne prop Jordan McLean has been a handy sounding board for us this week after he was part of their premiership campaign last year. They may have changed a few things, but he understands how they operate and it’s beneficial having players who have come from other clubs that have the inside word.
He’s had a few pieces of advice this week and hopefully that will help us bounce back at AAMI Park tonight.