COWBOYS youngster Shaun Hudson has vowed to repay the faith the club showed in him through his horror injury run as he prepares for his first meaningful game in 18 months this weekend.

Having already dealt with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in under-20s, the outside back went through the ordeal again after suffering a serious knee injury at last year’s Auckland Nines.

To add salt to the wound the Burleigh Bears junior, who turned 23 today, would have likely made his NRL debut last year due to the Cowboys’ injury crisis.

He could only watch on as fellow young speedsters Gideo Gela-Mosby and Enari Tuala got their first taste of the big time.

Cowboys skipper Matt Scott, also returning from an ACL injury in Saturday’s trial against Wests Tigers in Cairns, was a valuable sounding board for Hudson through the rehab process.

“It’s been about a year and a half now since my last game of 80 minute footy. Excited is the word, I think nerves will come on game day,” Hudson said.

“I’ve had the injury before, I had it in the under twenties so I knew what to expect when I was going through the rehab this time around,” Hudson said.

“I’ve matured a bit being around the full squad for three years now. I just need to get back on the field and that will determine whether I’m ready to play.

“I think I need to go back to (Townsville) Blackhawks, play some consistent footy there and build some confidence.”

In a sign of how highly the Cowboys rate his potential, Hudson was re-signed in the midst of his second serious knee injury.

It was the vote of confidence he needed to get back and prove his worth.

“I was stoked with that, to see the faith the club showed in me,” Hudson said.

“I obviously hadn’t played all year and they wouldn’t have known what capability I’d have coming into this season, so I really need to prove myself to them and play some good footy.”

The versatile Hudson is listed as a fullback on the Cowboys web site, but has also spent time at centre and wing during training.

“I do get thrown around the outside backs a fair bit. I played fullback and five eighth in my younger days and I’ve been playing wing out here, I’m ready to play wherever.”

Johnathan Thurston didn’t train with the team today due to a minor illness, but isn’t in any doubt to make his return from shoulder surgery on Saturday.

SATURDAY

Trial match: Cowboys v Wests Tigers at Barlow Park, Cairns, 7.30pm