After a tough run of injuries throughout his career already, coupled with off-season surgery to end 2014, Curtis Sironen says he's finally ready to roll in 2015.
Even if it is, technically, the first time he's ever been ready to do that in his career.
"It's actually my first ever Round 1 game in the NRL," he said earlier this week.
"Obviously I'm pretty excited about that after a good pre-season.
"I'm confident in my body, and I'm excited to test myself come Saturday."
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Debuting for the Club in Round 12, 2012 against the North Queensland Cowboys, Sironen quickly began to establish himself as an integral part of the side before a shoulder injury saw him sidelined for the remainder of the season and requiring a full reconstruction.
Named as Rookie of the Year that season showed there was certainly cause for his potential, but frustratingly for Sironen, he wouldn't be back on the field until Round 6, 2013.
When he was back, the Dundas Shamrocks junior played every game for the remainder of the 2013 season, before he was again dogged by injury — this time at the 2014 Auckland Nines, where he sustained a footy injury that ruled him out for the first 12 rounds of the competition.
Put all that together, and it's understandable why Sironen is so excited to be fit, healthy, and ready to roll in Round 1 for the first time in his career.
"I had some surgery this off-season too, but I didn't miss too much in terms of training because we were just starting to transition in with the new coach," he said.
"I've been back training with the boys at full strength since December and it's been good.
"It's great that everyone has that fresh start and we're really building on delivering in Round 1.
"To be completely honest, my body is the best it's ever felt," he said.
"I just want to go out there now and start to reach my potential."
Starting in the back-row on the left edge, the Holy Cross product also said he was excited to continue playing alongside close friend and fellow Holy Cross graduate, Luke Brooks.
"I think another reason why I was so disappointed about missing so many games last year was the fact that I couldn't find my feet on the left edge with Brooksy," he said.
"By the time we got that combination going, the season was over, so hopefully we can pick that up quick and find some success on that left edge.
"Hopefully he can put me over for a few meat pies as well!
"But in all seriousness, I'm just focused on taking it week-by-week.
"I don't want to go out there and overplay my role at all and try to set the world on fire.
"For me, it's just about fitting into a new structure well and fulfiling my role in it as best as I can, and letting the success come off the back of that.
