New Cronulla Sharks signing Michael Gordon rebuilds confidence after horror injury run

STAR Cronulla Sharks signing Michael Gordon rebuilds confidence after a horror injury run that left his playing future in doubt.

Michael Gordon

STAR Sharks signing Michael Gordon has revealed he has been forced to re-build his entire left leg in the off-season in a determined bid to end his horror injury run.

The 29-year-old former NSW State of Origin winger appeared to be back to his best when returning from a broken fibula for former club Penrith's final six matches of 2012, but appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

"I was pretty much playing on one leg, mate," Gordon said ahead of the Sharks' first day of training tomorrow.

"I just had no strength in it and it's taken a long time to get back to where I am now.

"You could tell when I first came back I had no power. No confidence to back myself. I'd make a break and then surrender in the tackle straight away because I didn't have the speed or confidence to take them on.

"When it got to the end of the season, I basically knew I'd need to rebuild it from scratch.

"More than anything I'm excited for this season. It's kind of a fresh start. Really happy to be here so I just want to work hard with all the other boys before Christmas."

Despite this, Gordon produced some spellbinding performances at the end of the 2012 season, racking up an incredible 15 tackle busts in round 23 and carrying the ball for 270m in round 26.

A recovery and fitness program will be designed for him tomorrow when he begins pre-season under Cronulla's new-look strength and conditioning department, but has been building strength in the leg on his own for the last eight weeks.

Gordon, who only moved house from Penrith to Cronulla on Wednesday, believes after eight pre-seasons he does not need to wait for a physiotherapist or conditioner to tell him how to comeback from injury.

He has also had to claw his way back from two season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tears in his knees.

"The body's feeling really good now," he said.

"But you don't really know fully until you get into pre-season and you are training with the boys."