Jamal Idris says he wants to return to the NRL in 2017

JAMAL Idris will return to the NRL next year, declaring “I’ll be back bigger, faster and stronger’’ after a 260-day exile from rugby league.

Jamal Idris wants to return to the NRL.

JAMAL Idris will return to the NRL next year with the former State of Origin destroyer declaring “I’ll be back bigger, faster and stronger’’ after a 260-day exile from rugby league.

The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal that Idris, 26, will put himself on the open market tomorrow in a bid to make his NRL return after rediscovering his love for the game while on a soul-searching trip to Africa.

Idris stunned the game by quitting a multi-million dollar deal with the Penrith Panthers last November to become a rugby league walkabout.

“I decided I wanted to go back while I was in Ghana,’’ Idris said.

Jamal Idris decided he wanted to return to the NRL when he was in Ghana.

“I was searching for all these answers I couldn’t find before and I found them.

“One of the questions I needed answering was whether or not I was a football player and if I wanted to be one. The answer is yes. With-out doubt.’’

Jamal’s World Tour

VIEW GALLERY

One of the most destructive outside backs to have played in the NRL, the 195cm behemoth revealed the real reasons he turned his back on rugby league to go globe trotting in a world tour that saw him visit 11 countries in just eight months.

“I was depressed,’’ Idris said.

“I needed to find out who I was and I had to go out and see what else there was for me. I lost my Nan, my pop and my uncle last year. The all passed away in a short space of time and that probably made me make a decision.’’

Jamal Idris has spent much of the last year travelling.

Idris said he is finally ready to reach his rugby league potential following a stop-start career that has seen him play for the Bulldogs, the Titans and the Panthers.

“I am ready to go back,’’ Idris said.

“I just turned 26 the other day and I have the best in front of me. No doubt I will be more committed and dedicated then I have ever been. This is me making the decision to play now. Not someone making me. I want to play. That is a big difference.

DUDS: Why McGregor can’t drop Dragons

FINALS: How is your team set for the run home

“When you are away from it, when you clear your mind, you start to enjoy training. I am doing because I want to not because I have to. Everything I am doing now I am doing it because I want to do it.’’

Idris in Munich, Germany.

Following trips to Europe, Africa and Asia, Idris has begun training for his NRL return.

“I am lifting almost the same as what I did when I left. I am focusing on my cardio now. First step is to get myself into the best physical shape possible. I am in the right headspace, so next is the body.’’

A Bulldogs homecoming could be on the cards with the Canterbury junior declaring he is open to all offers.

Idris walked away from the game in 2015.

“I am open to anything,’’ Idris said.

“I would never say no to going back to the Doggies. I will come back and talk to my manager Sam Ayoub and see what he thinks. I just want to play footy. It is a part of my life and it can’t be replaced. It has just taken me to now to work that out.’’

Idris manager Sam Ayoub predicted the man mountain will be chased by several clubs.

“He needed to walk away for a bit,’’ Ayoub said.

“That was the best thing for him. Now that he has done that he will be better for it. Jamal is an exceptional rugby league player. We all know that. Now he will be even better with his head clear and his motivation high.’’

Originally published as Jamal Idris says he wants to return to the NRL in 2017