Danny Wicks had waited five long years to come back to the NRL, so when his return was delayed, and delayed again, he was prepared to wait a little longer.
The convicted drug pusher has admirably turned his life around since being sentenced to an 18-month prison term and returned to the NRL for Parramatta in Friday night's loss against Canterbury.
It was his first game since Newcastle's Qualifying Final loss to the Bulldogs on September 12, 2009.
With Eels coach Brad Arthur repeatedly forced to change his replacement tactics on a number of occasions, Wicks, 29, twice stood on the sideline with an interchange card in his hand and was twice held back, before being released into the fray at ANZ Stadium 10 minutes before halftime.
In a night largely to forget for Parramatta, it was a performance to savour from Wicks. The slimmed down prop carried the ball strongly 15 times for 147m and made 16 tackles.
Wicks spoke briefly in the Eels' dressing room with reporters after the game.
"The boys didn't get the result we wanted but I suppose in a nutshell it is good to be back," he said.
"I'm happy, very emotional, I have changed my life and it is for the better.
"I think they got me up three times but that's alright, I have waited five years, what's another five minutes?
"I felt fresh out there, I have been training for a long time and I was good to go.
"Everyone was dropping like flies, these things happen but we will be back.
"The biggest change now is the wrestle, you can't wrestle any more so it makes the game a little bit quicker.
"When you are 20 kilos lighter you can keep up a bit easier than you could before too."
Eels coach Brad Arthur was rapt with Wicks's effort.
"I thought he was great," Arthur said.
"He carried the ball strongly with good leg speed, he worked hard for a play the ball for us and, defensively, he kept filling the space for us.
"He probably got more minutes because of the circumstances than we planned and I thought he did OK."
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