Penrith star Josh Mansour is banking on his first full off-season in three years will result in him rediscovering the form that made him one of game’s best wingers.
Over the past two summers, Mansour’s pre-season has been halved as he enjoyed the rest that came with representing the Kangaroos in the Four Nations and World Cup.
But while eight of his Panthers teammates attended NSWRL camps last December, Mansour was half-an-hour down the M4 sweating it out at their club gym.
“I would’ve loved to be a part of all that, don’t get me wrong,” Mansour told AAP.
“But it just wasn’t meant to be. I’m in the position I’m in today, and now I’ve got to do whatever I can to get back into that representative arena.”
It comes after a frustrating season plagued by injuries, including a sickening cheekbone fracture that sidelined him for over two months.
That particular setback cost him any chance of being selected by Blues coach Brad Fittler, who instead went with rookie pairing Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr for the State of Origin series.
Mansour was also overlooked by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga for their two Test matches last year, opting to go with Dane Gagai and Valentine Holmes.
At the same time, Mansour was preparing to return in the summer heat at Penrith.
“That was the toughest part, the injuries felt like they always came at the worst time. I couldn’t really stamp my position in representative arena,” Mansour said.
“But in saying that, I’ve got to forget all of that. It’s happened. I’ve just got to start fresh.”
And that includes stepping up as a leader of a Panthers side widely expected to contend for a premiership under the tutelage of returning coach Ivan Cleary.
Cleary was at the helm when Mansour was first recruited to the foot of the mountains in 2012, and flourished under his guidance.
Mansour is only one of two players remaining from that squad, along with Sam McKendry.
“I was looking at a photo on the wall before of our 2014 squad and there aren’t many players left from that team either,” Mansour said.
“I’m proud to have lasted this long but I’ve started to realise this pre-season especially that it’s time for me to become a leader here.
“It’s actually part of the reason I re-signed (last year). I’ve seen a lot of guys come through here and to continue this journey with them, it was a massive factor in me staying.”