Titans prospect Vaka Sikahele has heaped praise on fellow teammate Jayden Campbell for helping him prepare to return to the training field after devastatingly finishing his 2023 season on the back of a medicab.
Stretchered off in the 64th minute of the Hostplus Cup grand final with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, the 21-year-old is now only a few weeks away from being back to full fitness after a pre-season stint alongside Campbell helped him conquer what he admits can sometimes be a lonely place recovering.
"I did my MCL and PCL in the grand final last year playing for Burleigh and I’m just grateful and thank god that it’s not that bad," Sikahele told 7 News Gold Coast.
"I'm super thankful for my rehab buddy JC too... we are always on the bike and swimming… that’s been mostly our rehab at the moment.
"He started running recently as well, so it’s good to be doing that together with him and he has so much energy in rehab.
"When you’re doing it with him, you don’t feel alone. Sometimes when you’re doing rehab by yourself, it’s such a lonely place… but having JC there with me is so good."
Having had small stints back on the training field with light duties in the last weeks of December ahead of an expected January return, Sikahele who is now completing his third train-and-trial with the Gold Coast has his eyes set on the Titans' first trial against the Dolphins on February 18 - even cheekily urging the club physio to give him the green light early to prepare.
"I’ve had my first couple of rehab runs and it feels good... I keep telling Leigh (club physio) I should be right to go by the next week," he joked.
"I trust our physios and I should be back full training in January after the Christmas break.
"My goal is definitely that first trial, and if the chance does come, I’ll be keen.
"I feel like I’ll be ready."
Getting a taste of NRL in the same fixture in 2023 - even scoring a try in his maiden first grade stint against the Broncos - the up-and-coming hooker is also hoping to earn a contract to the Titans' full-time squad by impressing new coach Des Hasler.
He's hoping his off-season move to Tweed will help him achieve this, with a huge desire to continue learning in the lower grade after playing every game in the Hostplus Cup last season.
"I’m excited… there’s a lot of good players there and coach Dave Penna has already spoken to me about learning off them," Sikahele said.
"I’m keen to see what the culture is like down at Tweed and just want to keep learning."
