Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks hooker Cameron King has declared he still has a strong desire to continue playing in the NRL despite enduring another setback with a fourth ACL injury earlier this season.
King signed a one-year deal with the Sharks at the start of the 2020 campaign but was dealt a massive blow when he ruptured his ACL in a trial match against Canterbury-Bankstown.
He was initially in danger of missing the entire NRL season but since the competition was revamped and temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his dream of playing first-grade in 2020 still remains.
Uncertain of his immediate playing future following this season, King believes he still has plenty to offer as he embarks on his road to recovery in the hope of playing NRL once again.
“It’s been a bit of a strange year, hasn’t it? But it’s been good (in a way) because I could focus on my rehab and get that done, and it’s tracking along nicely,” King said on The Short Side with Jamie Soward.
“I still love the game and when you have long-term injuries sometimes you fall out of love with the game, and I’ve tried that before.
“I’ve tried to hate the game and it’s just not who I am. I love the game of footy.
“I’ll continue to try and play as long as I can. I don’t have an option yet for next year anywhere so obviously I just need to focus on getting as fit and strong as I can and getting my knee right.
“Hopefully an opportunity comes up, whether that’s at the Sharks or somewhere else, I don’t know.
“But I still have got that desire to play footy.”
Having been hampered by injuries in the past which has limited him to just 43 first-grade games since his NRL debut in 2010, King has taken it upon himself to help others who are struggling with injury given his experience with rehabilitation.
It’s a silver lining for the 28-year-old who has persevered through countless obstacles in the past, but it’s been a testament to his tireless work-ethic on and off the field and it has paved the way for him to make another comeback.
“I’ve got a bit of experience in rehab, and it can be sort-of daunting sometimes for guys who haven’t had many injuries before,’ he said.
“I think it’s just about concentrating on your rehab but obviously you want to be out there playing (Rugby League).
“If you can just look after what you can control and rip into your rehab, and get your diet right and do everything you need to go to get back as soon as possible.
“So, if I can help out young guys in that area, it gives me a lot of satisfaction as-well.”
