Had Melbourne had their way, Richie Fa'aoso would be playing for, rather than against them, on Sunday.
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When news broke of Fa'aoso gaining a clearance to resume his NRL career following a broken neck, the Storm were one of the journeyman's suitors. Fa'aoso had already won a grand final with the southerners after coming off the bench for the 2012 decider - and then selflessly offered to give his premiership ring to the man he replaced, the injured Jason Ryles.
"When you come into a team after, what, six or seven weeks, you come in and feel a bit 'ah, shit, I've just taken this bloke's thing'," Fa'aoso said. "He had done all the hard work to get there. I'm not sure what happened there [with him getting a ring]. But he's a good bloke, Rylesy."
Instead of accepting a substantial two-year offer to rejoin his Storm teammates, the Parramatta forward will be running into them at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday. The 30-year-old's return to the NRL was an inauspicious one. After endless medical assessments and insurance red tape, he made his long-awaited return - only to be be knocked out and forced off with concussion after five minutes.
Canterbury captain James Graham believes players, rather than medicos, should determine whether they are fit to return to the field and has been a critic of the new concussion protocols. "I'm not a fan, either," said Fa'aoso, who has made a remarkable comeback from a C7 fracture.
"That is part of being a forward. You're going to cop those knocks and it makes us who we are when we get up and keep going. Keep running. You know what I mean? But I understand that it's for our safety. I respect that. I don't agree with it ... but I respect it."
The Tongan international said he was "devastated" his return game was cut short. "It's a hard game, especially in the forwards, and you're going to get those knocks," he said. "That's what makes tough footballers, being able to fight through the knock. We used to be able to run it out. That's what made us forwards - that toughness. Now you have to grab your leg and pretend you're hurt ... wait until you get the eight count and get back up."
Asked if the players should be allowed to determine whether they remained on the field, he said: "It's a tough one because ... yeah, you know if you're with it or not. I just don't agree with it."
The Eels have a good record at Pirtek Stadium but suffered an upset loss in their last clash at the ground, to the Gold Coast. Sitting second last on percentages, they need a win against Melbourne to remain in touch with the competition pacesetters.
"I know what's going to be coming on Sunday. They're a relentless team," Fa'aoso said. "It's going to be a grind. And we're up for that. We know what's coming and we're looking forward to it."
