Cronulla forward Anthony Tupou believes his current run of hot form is a direct result of being as close to full fitness as he’s been since he last represented Australia in 2008.
Plagued by a knee injury for the past three seasons, Tupou spent much of 2012 simply getting back on the field after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in round four.
While that was initially believed to season-ending, Tupou has returned strongly and is expected to feature heavily in Shane Flanagan’s forward pack during Cronulla’s finals campaign.
And there was a significant silver lining, with his latest setback allowing the hard-running second-rower to fully heal the right knee which has caused him so much stress for the past three seasons.
Tupou underwent radical stem cell therapy treatment in the off-season to regenerate cartilage in his knee.
The additional time in rehabilitation has resulted in better strength in both knees than he’s felt in four years – when he last represented both NSW and Australia.
“It’s been three or four years since the body has felt this good,” Tupou, who has also overcome a hamstring to face Melbourne on Monday, told AAP.
“I’ve carried that right knee … there was no cartilage in it but it’s doing really good now.
“I couldn’t do the training (for the past three seasons). I’d only train during the day before the game because that would be the only session I could get in (and run).
“I’m really surprised at how good I feel at the moment.
“You hear a lot of people at training say how it it is to come back from an ACL injury so I’ve been surprised at (the success of the comeback).”
Tupou, who confirmed he would take up a one-year option and play for the Sharks in 2013, said he wasn’t letting his mind drift towards contract negotiations about his playing future beyond next year.
“Honestly I’m not thinking of the year after next year yet, and I’m doing that on purpose,” he explained.
“I’m not going to lock in anything or even start to think ahead of this year.
“I really think all my attention and effort needs to be put into the back end of this year.
“I’m just going to focus on that. Whatever happens happens and next year I can start thinking about (2014).”
