CURTIS Sironen could already have 100 NRL games under his belt.

But a heartbreaking run of seven surgeries in six years has curtailed the promising career of a man desperate to forge his own identity out from the shadow of his famous father.

At 24, Sironen has already overcome more challenges than most his age will ever face.

While his career is still in its infancy in many respects, he’s had more injuries than most players will have in their entire tenure.

Round 20

A shoulder reconstruction at the age of 18 was the trigger of a long list of setbacks. He’d only just finished year 12.

He admits he’d “probably played too much footy” with Schoolboys, junior reps and 20s, his body couldn’t handle the workload.

Paul Sironen with his son Curtis at 19 months old. Source: News Corp Australia

Having mended the torn shoulder, he made his first grade debut under Tim Sheens before injuring the same shoulder six games into his rookie season.

“It’s heartbreaking man, it’s the same s**t,” Sironen told foxsports.com.au.

It’s just another hurdle he’s been forced to clear.

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Eight months recovery for the shoulder, a broken foot in 2014 at the Auckland Nines was a 12 week recovery, hamstring issues the following year saw him in and out of first grade.

A move to Manly appeared to be the fresh start his body and mind needed before a torn pectoral meant another 10 games on the sidelines.

“I’ve been under the knife a few too many times already,” he said.

Curtis Sironen with a cut nose. Source: News Corp Australia

“I’m only 24. It’s been tough. I just have to stay on top of my body. It’s one part of the journey that’s made it a lot tougher.

“You build all these big muscles as an 18-19-year-old but your tendons and ligaments can’t hold onto those muscles.

“You see a lot of guys getting injured around 20. A lot of guys have been in the system for a while and playing that much footy they burn out. That was massive for me. I was playing too much footy.”

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The pressures and expectations of carrying a famous last name didn’t help either.

As the son of a Balmain legend, Sironen has long felt the eyes of the public and his peers watching him.

It was a burden at the junior level but became overbearing once he pulled on the same jersey as his dad for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.

“Now that I’m here (in Manly), I realise it did play a lot on my mind,” Sironen said.

Curtis Sironen with his dad Paul Sironen after injuring his shoulder. Source: News Limited

“I was trying to prove myself. Having that extra pressure off helps.

“... a lot of fans expected me to come out and play like my old man.”

Throw in a positional switch and there was a new challenge ahead of him.

Having played five-eighth as a junior, Sironen’s broad shoulders and growth spurt saw him outgrow the haves.

“I played in the halves and then going into the backrow was a shock to the system, trying to play big minutes with a different workload,” he explained.

“It wasn’t until last year that I started feeling really comfortable in my body.

“Besides a freak accident, my shoulder getting caught and tearing my pec, I feel my body is ready now.”

It’s taken Sironen five years to be in a place where he feels both his body and mind are ready to attack the season.

It was just a few short years earlier he was dwindling in reserve grade after failing out of favour with former coach Jason Taylor.

That’s when the head noise started.

But did he fear his career was over at 22?

Curtis Sironen of the Sea Eagles is tackled. Source: Getty Images

“100 percent,” he admits.

“You play reserve grade and if you don’t play well you question ‘can I still do it?’

“I did question myself a lot. Sometimes people just need a fresh start and someone else in their ear to bring the best out of them.

“That’s what happened here for me.

“That last year at the Tigers wasn’t fun. I didn’t even want to go to training. You know something is wrong when you’re dreading going in or playing on the weekends.

“Playing Mounties in Albury and getting sprayed out there. It was a good learning curve but also pretty scary. I thought ‘s**t, I’ve got a lot of work to do or I’m in a bit of trouble’.”

Those days feel like a lifetime ago.

At peace in Brookvale and signed with the club until the end of 2021, Sironen believes he’s “matured under Barrett’s coaching.

“I’m comfortable in my own skin. I haven’t got the voices in my head worrying about trying to impress anyone other than my teammates,” he said.

“I used to go into games worrying because people were watching. It was a lack of confidence. Now I back myself.”

With five appearances for the City Origin side, Sironen’s name has long been tossed up for NSW.

Curtis Sironen at City Origin training. Source: News Corp Australia

It’s a goal he’s set out to achieve but in reality, he knows he’s playing at a time where the Blues are blessed for choices.

So depth heavy in the backrow, he could see out his career having never achieved the honour of pulling on the sky blue.

“There’s a million backrowers available for NSW but if the opportunity ever came, I’d love to do that,” he said.

“I’m probably still a little bit from that level and I know that. For me it’s about consistency.

“I can have a game that’s as good as those rep players but they’re doing it every week. I know I have to keep working at it but that’s definitely one of my goals.”