Toby Rudolf said he will be able to start Cronulla’s latest NRL campaign after being put to the test by jujitsu master and Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
But Cronulla continues to sweat over the availability of some key players ahead of Saturday’s home qualifier against North Queensland after a month’s absence due to injuries.
Will Kennedy remains an opportunity to return, with officials waiting to see how a week of training on his injured ankle fares on lap 26.
Dale Finucane will return from a rib problem, while powerful center Siosifa Talakai also remains an opportunity to get over his ankle injury in time for kick-off.
The NSW home state representative injured in a hip tackle in Sunday’s win over Newcastle, but the damage isn’t as bad as initially feared with Talakai lucky in the way he landed.
Either way, there are no such concerns for first rower Rudolf who last played in round 22 when he injured the medial ligament in his right knee.
“It feels really good. It’s not a normal knee yet, but it’s really good to play, ”Rudolf told AAP.
“I feel almost arthritic, but my whole body is a little bit arthritic at this point in my life.
“Sunday I did all the rehab stuff, simulation game type training and it was unreal.
“So I’m ready to go this weekend.”
Rudolf made a final appearance for Cronulla in 2020, but says this time he looks different than the Sharks who were eliminated in the first week from Canberra.
“It’s so different to finish second than eighth and catch up with the numbers,” joked Rudolf.
“There was so much talk that we hadn’t beaten one of the top eight teams and had almost a losing record.
“But this time it’s different. It’s different.”
Rudolf’s role has also increased.
In the two months leading up to his knee injury, he averaged nearly 60 minutes per game, acting as the true workhorse of the Sharks group.
He hopes he can rack up similar numbers this weekend, after Cronulla played it safe and kept him at bay from the last lap to the final.
But if there were any lingering doubts about his fitness, they were put to bed by Saturday’s session with Fitzgibbon in his toughest workout ever.
“I’ve had three weeks off and I don’t really know if it’s going to be bad or good (with just a few minutes),” he said.
“I had a fight with Craig Fitzgibbon … It’s like a black belt in jujitsu. So it was pretty hectic.
“I’m still a little sore from that. So maybe a little longer and I’ll be fine. “