Manly cult hero George Rose spent 18 months out of the game after badly breaking his leg in 2007, but he claims being dropped by coach Geoff Toovey for the first seven rounds of this NRL season has been the toughest time in his career.

The affable prop was dumped to NSW Cup by Toovey at the start of the year and ordered to get into shape following a poor performance in the World Club Challenge defeat by Leeds in February.

The 29-year-old made a barnstorming return on Friday, with an all-action performance off the bench, clocking up 149 metres in Manly’s 12-10 win over Des Hasler’s Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.

Rose has fought a constant battle against the bulge throughout his career, but he demonstrated his talent with a brilliant step and run before offloading to Steve Matai who scored the match-winning try five minutes from time.

“It’s great to be back, I’ve missed this so much. It’s been hard watching the boys and not being a part of it,” Rose said.

“I am about seven or eight weeks behind everyone else in terms of match fitness, but I hope I can stay in the side now and catch everyone up.”

Toovey pulled no punches with Rose after he struggled on a heavy pitch at Headingley against Leeds and showed his ruthless streak by axing one of the core members of last year’s premiership-winning side for the season opener against the Warriors.

But he was delighted with Rose’s showing against the Bulldogs as he chalked up a win over his former boss Hasler and urged him to produce on a regular basis.

“We all know what George is capable of and what his potential is, ” Toovey said.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds and had a fantastic game and I couldn’t ask for any more.

“His general fitness wasn’t good enough. If you are not super fit or a super athlete in today’s game you’ll get found out.”

Rose admits he was stunned to be axed, and said the frustration of playing in NSW Cup every week was more difficult to cope with than being in plaster following the sickening leg break that cost him appearances in the 2007 and 2008 grand finals .

“It was harder as there was nothing holding me back from being on the field,” Rose said.

“When I had the injuries I was sitting down on crutches and that was the reason I wasn’t playing footy.

“To be playing reserve footy and being ready to go and not being involved has been a lot harder.”