Baptism of fire, Baptiste dusts off the cobwebs

Sunshine Coast Falcons new recruit Kurt Baptiste hits the paddock for the first time in 18 months.

Kurt Baptiste . NRL ; North Queensland Cowboys Vs Melbourne Storm at 1300 Smiles Stadium. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Kurt Baptiste hasn't played a game of footy in 18 months.

The former NRL hooker last hit the paddock for the North Queensland Cowboys in June 2019.

His season and NRL career cut short after he tore his ACL playing for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls

Baptiste had signed a contract with Easts Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup for the 2020 season however that was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The 29-year-old given a glimmer of hope with the Canberra Raiders signing him for three months in the shortened 2020 NRL season, that wasn't to be either though with Baptiste missing out on a call up.

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Now he's in Falcons colours and ready to fly.

"It's good to finally get back into training I was meant to start earlier than I have but I had to get my appendix removed a few weeks ago," Baptist said,

"It was really painful but I'm all recovered now so ready to get back into it.

"It's been a long time since I played."

The new Falcon bringing with him 80 NRL games to his name for the Broncos, Raiders, Roosters and Cowboys.

"I've been around awhile so just that experience and I just want to improve my game still," he said.

"I just want to have a good year and rip into training and hopefully stay injury free this year.

"The boys are good, the coaching staff are good, sam's seems like a good coaching and good person so I'm looking forward to working with him.

"I'm just looking forward to getting into training and getting back on the field."

Kurt Baptiste at training with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Falcons coach Sam Mawhinney said he's looking forward to seeing the experienced hooker on the field.

"I think he's going to be really good for us around the ruck and through the middle and speed the game up which is how we want to play," Mawhinney said.

"When there's someone as experienced as him, he's played test footy for PNG, he's going to be really good to have around the group."

Baptiste keeping his eye firmly on the prize.

"I wanna win a comp with these guys, so that's the end goal," he said.

"There's maybe the world cup at the end of the year with PNG so I've got to play well and stay injury free."

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