Back in stride: Raiders lock Shaun Fensom. Credit:Matt Bedford It means Fensom could be back on the park in six months, for an injury that can take nine to 12 months to recover, Fensom said the scenario could be much different had Raiders medical staff and senior teammates Campese and White not intervened last year. Fensom suffered the injury in the humiliating round 21 loss to the New Zealand Warriors, the Raiders already behind by 30 points when he was chaired off the field. Despite being well out of finals contention, Fensom pleaded to go back on, before White and Campese – who have both suffered ruptured knees – cautioned him against it in case he'd torn his anterior cruciate ligament {ACL].

"After all the pain subsided, I strapped it up and was even running down the sideline stepping off it," Fensom said. "I was in the medical staff's ear telling them to let me out there. It was good they didn't. "Campo and Brett White actually said it's not worth the risk, even if it isn't [the ACL] you're better off waiting for that scan to find to find out instead of going out and doing further damage. "I was lucky I didn't. I could have done my cartilage or meniscus [as well] and been in a brace for six to eight weeks, it slows down the whole recovery process." While Campese has moved on to the British Super League after consecutive knee reconstructions, Fensom insisted he would have no lingering doubts over his own knee when he returns.

"I don't worry about stuff like that. If I'm fit to play it will be the last thing in the back of my head," Fensom said. "My body comes second when I'm out on the field. "I have to keep pulling the handbrake on [the recovery process], I want to push myself but the medical staff have to keep pulling me back." Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who has previously lauded Fensom as an Origin-style player, said the lock was an invaluable part of the Canberra pack. "I'll be led by medical advice. We certainly won't be risking Fenno if he's not right to go, but it's a remarkable position he's put himself in," Stuart said. "I haven't seen too many people as diligent in their training and rehabilitation. He's a very focused and determined guy. We haven't pushed him beyond the limits, but he's pushed it right to the line with a great attitude and work ethic. He lives the culture we're trying to create here."

Fensom spent an extra two weeks of the off-season break training alone, adding four kilograms of muscle and extra speed. The Urunga junior has again set his goal for a breakthrough NSW Country berth, admitting he weas disappointed to be overlooked for the injury-depleted team last year, before eventually getting called in as 18th man. "I was pretty angry when I found out but you can't do anything about it, it's what the selectors want," Fensom said. "Even being 18th man for Country was a letdown. I was pretty disappointed but that's how it is. This year, I'll just try and improve everything, I've had a good break from contact so I'm raring to go. "It's a challenge coming back from injuries, but I think I'm going to come back even stronger than I was before."