NRL: Cronulla's Covell playing for a brighter future

A dejected Luke Covell after sustaining a leg injury. Photo / Getty Images

Even the good time turned bad for Luke Covell.

So it is hardly surprising he is anxious to close out Cronulla's forgettable National Rugby League season with fonder memories.

The wing has only contributed to a match-winning performance for the competition strugglers once this season - and it was savoured as the 29-year-old sat on the Toyota Park sideline with a serious knee injury.

Covell cut a forlorn figure after the 11-0 upset of Parramatta in round four, figuring his season - or even career - was over in April.

The latter scenario might still eventuate as Covell is off contract in October, but at least the one-test Kiwi is in a position to play for his future thanks to a radical medical procedure.

A snapped anterior cruciate ligament usually requires a 12-month rehabilitation but Covell confounded medical opinion by making his first-grade comeback against Newcastle on July 11.

Fortunately Covell remembered Sydney Swans AFL player Nick Malceski speeding his recovery from a knee injury by risking an alignment augmentation and reconstructive system operation (LARS) for the first time in Australia.

The procedure involves two industrial-strength synthetic fibres, similar to thick shoelaces, being inserted into the knee to act as a replacement ACL.

Covell convinced orthopaedic surgeon Craig Walker to attempt the operation for the first time because a career change to plumbing, real estate or personal training lacked appeal.

"Getting out into the real world and having a real job is not an easy thing to think about, I'm not ready for that yet," he said. "I bloody love the game. It's been hard work to get back out there, now it's about finding form."

That quest continues against the Warriors tonight, the fifth game of his return - and the third match of new head coach Shane Flanagan's tenure.

So far neither man has had great cause for celebration.

Covell scored first up against Newcastle but last week against the Wests Tigers he was hemmed in, making only 27 metres from five runs.

Covell, who has contributed 918 points (353 goals) in 126 games for the club, has also handed over the kicking responsibilities to halfback Scott Porter.

Meanwhile, dubious refereeing has made life difficult for Flanagan - Ricky Stuart's successor - as the Raiders and Wests Tigers hung on for narrow victories to leave the Sharks floundering at the bottom of the table.

Covell has been at the club since 2005 and admits the last two seasons have been the toughest.

A lowly 15th last year, they face the same predicament in 2010.

Only salary cap cheats Melbourne are below the Sharks so with five games remaining they must start winning to have any chance of overhauling fellow also-rans North Queensland.

"The last two years have been really hard on the club. Not just the players but the fans and sponsors," Covell said. "But we're still here, we're fighting hard. Hopefully we can finish the year off strongly for Shane [Flanagan] and build into a good pre-season for 2011."

Covell said the mood was still positive at training as the players focused on jeopardising the play-off aspirations of the remaining title contenders - like the eighth-placed Warriors.

"We can spoil the party.

"We've showed some great improvement in the last couple of weeks. With a bit of luck the hard work will pay off."

Covell had a tough assignment against the Warriors in round two where Manu Vatuvei made his life a misery at Mt Smart Stadium.

"He had one of his best games, got a hat-trick ... he pretty much embarrassed me," recalled Covell, who scored a try himself in that 16-30 defeat.

Fortunately for Covell he has played on the left flank over the last two rounds so he should avoid the giant Kiwis wing, though as he pointed out: "[Bill] Tupou's not the smallest bloke in the world either."

- NZPA