Slade Griffin is feeling fit and confident.
The hooker is on the comeback from his fourth ACL injury with a Round 16 return date in his sights.
Speaking on the Our Town Our Team podcast, Griffin revealed he’s ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and is hoping to be integrated into team activities soon.
“I’m feeling good,” Griffin said.
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“It’s actually six months to the day. Popped up in my calendar this morning. It’s a good little milestone.
“I do my hard work in the gym with my rehab. The start was a real mental battle but now I’m over the hill. It’s actually progressing a bit better than I thought.
“I’m going well for the schedule. I think she said I’m ahead of where Tau (Moga) was at this point.
“It shows I’ve put in the work. I’m really excited to be out there on the field. Hopefully get out there with the boys soon.”
Having completed an arduous pre-season while in the rehab group, Griffin’s fitness consisted of the ski machine, rower and working the boxing pads while he was unable to run.
Now back on the field, jumping and stepping, the No.9 is hopeful of playing a handful of Canterbury Cup games before putting himself into calculations for an NRL recall.
“We’re targeting Round 16,” he said.
“I’ll probably come back and get a few (Canterbury Cup NSW) games under my belt but I think I’ll be fit. I’m feeling really good out there.
“I know I’ve put in the work and legs are probably just as strong as they were before the op.
“Now it’s getting the running back and fitness and k’s in the legs.”
Griffin, who had a double surgery in Melbourne, said that while the recovery process is a lengthy one, he’s confident in his return.
“I had the two operations instead of the one just to make sure I had the strongest knee, so that took a little bit longer,” he said.
“In the end game it gives me a stronger knee.
“You want to come back and stay back.”
