Buhrer drawing NRL inspiration from Tate

Luckless Manly utility Jamie Buhrer is invoking the spirit of Brent Tate as he prepares to make his third NRL injury comeback in four months.

While Saturday’s showdown with Cronulla shapes as a big test for the underachieving Sea Eagles, Buhrer will run onto Shark Park merely hoping to get through the game unscathed.

Having played just eight competition games since the start of 2014, Buhrer is due for a stroke of luck.

He returned from a knee reconstruction at the Auckland Nines, only to suffer a broken jaw. And when he came back from that injury, against the Sydney Roosters in round four, he broke his hand.

“It’s been a bit of bad luck really,” Buhrer said.

“All players go through it. Unfortunately, my injuries have been one after the other but there’s not much else you can do other than just get on with it.

“Because if you worry about it too much, it can get you down.”

Buhrer bristles at the thought his career was at a crossroads after yet another injury setback.

The one-time NSW State of Origin representative said during his long series of layoffs, he was drawing inspiration from the plight of Queensland great Brent Tate.

Tate endured three knee reconstructions and wore a neck brace for the final decade of his decorated career, persevering when lesser men would have hung up the boots.

“I’ve always kept really positive. I look at Brent Tate, who went through his fair share, and you just have to look at his resume and what he was able to achieve regardless of all of his struggles,” Buhrer said.

“He pulled through and had a really great career and I’ve just remained positive cause there’s no point worrying about things or else you go out and play scared.”

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