In not returning for the second half of the Sharks win over the Broncos, many feared the worst for winger Sosaia Feki when he gingerly walked out of the sheds after the break, leg strapped and sporting a club polo rather than a jersey, to take a seat on the Cronulla bench.
Fortunately for the Sharks they had Ricky Leutele sitting in wait and when he filled the void for the second period, with Gerard Beale moving into Feki’s spot on the left wing, the problem had been temporarily solved.
The immediate future for Feki, a scorer of two first half tries and one of the Sharks most consistent performers for the first nine rounds of the season, was under a cloud.
However following some treatment on Monday and after a day of rest on Tuesday, Feki returned to training on Wednesday morning and the diagnosis was a positive one, with the barnstorming outside back set to be fit and ready to go for the Sharks next assignment which will be in Newcastle on Sunday week against the Knights.
While Feki aggravated a hamstring there was no tear and his failure to play out the match against the Broncos was more a pre-caution than because of serious injury. Such is the importance of Feki to the Sharks side no chances were to be taken as to his fitness for the important matches ahead.
In other Sharks injury news, the rest of the 17-players who took to the field against the Broncos came through with no serious issues, with a cut requiring stiches over the left eye of five eighth James Maloney, the only occasion club Doctor George Pitsis was called into action.
Only Mitch Brown was unavailable last week due to a knee injury, missing the Newtown Jets win over Wentworthville, but he too is expected to be available for selection in round 10.
Although the Sharks have a heavy representation in the various teams competing this weekend, the week off has come at just the right time for the remainder of the squad, with Coach Shane Flanagan giving those still at training a light week to freshen up before the Newcastle clash on May 15.
