The last few years haven't been kind to Leeds Rhinos star David Fusitu'a. In 2018 he was one of the sport's brightest stars, ending the season as the NRL's top try-scorer and finishing second to Josh Addo-Carr in the Dally M winger voting.
Aged 24 at the time, he appeared to have the world at his feet. But as can often be the case in the cruel world of sport, things didn't play out as expected. In the three seasons following he managed just 28 appearances and six tries. A cocktail of injuries and Covid-related issues hindered his progress and by the end of 2021, it was time for him to move on.
The Warriors are paying a significant chunk of his salary while he's at the Rhinos in a move that presents a new challenge. Unfortunately, that hasn't gone to plan either so far.
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The Tonga and New Zealand international has managed to play in just three of Leeds' 12 games so far this season, and has gone off injured in two of them. He was concussed during his debut against Warrington and, after a scoring return against Wakefield, was withdrawn in the defeat to Hull FC.
A minor knee operation has kept him from the field since, but now, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Fusitu'a has recovered from the setback and now feels healthy and ready for the rigours of the game.
"It's a lot better and now I can focus on playing well," he said. "I was having a few problems with it at the Warriors but because it wasn't too bad we managed it until I hurt it again against Hull and that's where it kind of got worse.
"When they had a look into it there was an old tear there and a new tear that had been done against Hull, so we decided to get it cleaned out so I can play free without restriction.
"It's good now, I was in with a chance of playing the game just gone but the physios said it was better to use the week off to get more miles in my legs and to get my knee stronger."
All Fusitu'a wants now is to feel confident again, to recapture his belief from his days dominating the NRL and to prove that he still possesses that level of quality.
"It would be awesome to feel like that again," he admitted. "The biggest thing is also giving my teammates confidence I can do a job and be out there on the field. To contribute and show them I can stay on the field, string some games together do my part for the team, it will be massive for me to get into that.
"Just having the confidence to get through the games and have no problems with my knee. Getting concussed didn't help and it will just help with my confidence to get my body through a game and get that game fitness back."
Asked if his confidence had been dented by his injury woe, he added: "It has, to tell you the truth. What's been great is having a lot of great people around me, encouraging me and telling me the truth and what I need to do to get myself back up there, working on stuff off the field not just on it. Having that has been awesome. Confidence is such a delicate thing, you can be on top of the world one week and next week down in the trenches."
All sights are now on a return against Salford. Fusitu'a and his family have overcome the off-field challenges that come with moving across the world, and he's ready to put his best foot forward in blue and amber.
"At the start it was a bit hard just finding our place, getting the house furnished, little things anyone would have to do if they're moving countries.
"It took us a little while to settle in, find our feet and our way around, get a baby into nursery and a routine. It has taken us a little while but the club and the boys have been a massive help in terms of making us as comfortable as we can and I can't thank them enough.
"We've got a really good routine now, we've been enjoying the weather we've had while it lasts and it's been awesome. It's looking really positive."
