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There were plenty of times in his 558 days away from the NRL that Connor Watson thought his career might be over.
Worse than that, he wasn't sure if the torn patella tendon he suffered in his left knee during pre-season training last summer would ever be the same again.
The road back was long but it just made his comeback on Friday night, when he scored a try in the Roosters' 48-6 win over South Sydney, all the sweeter.
"It was tough, there were times last year when I didn't know if the leg was going to get better or if I'd ever play again," Watson said.
"Those sort of things run through your mind and it's a heavy place to be. It's tough because you do so much to get your body right and then for it to happen – I knew straight away, and I knew how long the road back would be.
"But I'm surrounded by a terrific medical staff and I have a great support network, they got me through it, and then nights like this you forget all about it. It makes it all worth it."
Due to the nature of his recovery, Watson could barely run for close to 12 months – it wasn't until January of this year that he was able to hit the turf again after months of working in the gym and occasional sessions on the anti-gravity treadmill.
A torn patella tendon is one of the most difficult injuries to rehabilitate, which is part of the reason Watson's return served as an inspiration for his teammates.
The 27-year-old is one of the most-popular players at the club and his standing at the Roosters was clear to see when he was re-signed for two more seasons in November despite his long lay-off.
While Watson admits there were a few pre-match jitters once he hit the field, he looked like he'd never been away, getting through 52 minutes of the big win over the Rabbitohs.
"I wouldn't say this week, more the morning of the game there were some nerves. I just tried to keep it pretty chill. Both times I've had these big injuries, when I've come back I've really focused on enjoying it, have fun instead of putting pressure on yourself to perform," Watson said.
"The last couple weeks I've played NSW Cup and that was fun but you want to play this. It was a good feeling.
"It was epic, I enjoyed it so much and to do that in Jared's [Waerea-Hargreaves] 300th, it's something I'll remember forever."
For a player known for his speed and acceleration, so much time off your feet can be career-altering but Watson was his usual rapid self in the brutal Roosters victory.
While better known as a hooker or lock these days — he barely trained in the halves at all over the pre-season — Watson slotted in at halfback with aplomb once Sam Walker went off for an HIA.
After combining well with young five-eighth Sandon Smith, he's ready to cover there again next week against Penrith if need be.
"That's the thing, to play that [utility] role I have to be able to cover that position. I haven't trained there in a long time, but I've played a lot of footy there so it wasn't too distant for me," Watson said.
"There's definitely some things I need to work on and I might get some reps in there this week. I was lucky, I had Joey Manu and Dom Young outside me, it's a pretty good edge to be on."