Shane Shackleton looking forward to Parramatta return after rehab help from surfing champ Mick Fanning

Fit and raring to go after a season cruelled through injury...Parramatta's Shane Shackleton. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily TelegraphTHEY were the words of advice from a world champion who's been there, done that.And Parramatta front-rower Shane Shackleton has hailed dual surfing world champion Mick Fanning for helping him towards a long-awaited NRL comeback from a horror hamstring injury.Fanning bounced back after tearing his hamstring from the bone in 2004 to win his maiden world title three years later. The injury was nearly identical to Shackleton's.Which is why Shackleton credits the Gold Coast surfer with being an inspiration during the self-doubt and lonely hours of rehab that followed his season-ending injury just 22 minutes into his Eels debut."He's been a great help, just in giving me good peace of mind early on, which was really important," Shackleton said. "He's been through it and come back to win a world title and that's given me the confidence that I'll be OK."That's the big thing because it's such an unusual injury. It's good to have someone there who's been through it."The alliance with Fanning was engineered by Andrew Johns shortly after Shackleton was ruled out for the year with his hamstring injury.Fanning rang Shackleton and immediately sent a copy of his rehab program.The support came at a dark time, when Shackleton was struggling to get his head around the severity of the injury and the inevitable long months of rehabilitation.Fanning saw some familiar signs in the 28-year-old."At first the docs pretty much tell you it's over, so it's pretty frightening," the surf star said."So I just wanted to let him know he could come back."I just told him [former Test back-rower] Luke O'Donnell did the same thing and about some AFL players who have all come back firing hard."It's just when you haven't ridden a wave for so long or played footy it's pretty scary, but to know you can come back stronger always helps."Couch-bound and on crutches for the first six weeks, Shackleton has endured eight months of strength and physiotherapy. He virtually had to learn to walk again.He will have a special strength test in 10 days to determine if he is on track to play in any of the Eels' trials or be back for round one.The City Origin representative has been running since before Christmas and says the leg feels good.And the former Rooster admits he's desperate to repay Parramatta after feeling like a passenger for a season."That's the main thing I want to do coming back, is just wanting to repay the people who have invested in me," Shackleton said."To get 20 minutes out of me in the first game was obviously very disappointing, so it will be good to get back out there."I feel like I owe them."

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Replies

george blue n gold January 21, 2011 at 7:42am

You are a legend shacks. Looks like we he is certain to be a front rower this year.
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" January 21, 2011 at 4:14pm

I am not expecting too much for the first few games.

As you say Tony - coming back mentally is the really difficult part of the equation.

Don't be too harsh on him guys if he takes a few games to convince his head that he can play hard.
Tinkerbell January 22, 2011 at 7:41pm

: ) I love Shack!

This reply was deleted.

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Shane Shackleton looking forward to Parramatta return after rehab help from surfing champ Mick Fanning

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