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Inu counts his grand final blessings

Roar Rookie
3rd October, 2009
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In Krisnan Inu’s mind, Sunday will be just like any other day for the brilliant Parramatta and New Zealand Test centre.

He will stroll into church, pray, wander on to the Eels’ team bus and take the short trip to ANZ Stadium for the league game of his life. Just another game, he’ll keep saying.

And he will count his blessings that he’s even there, at 22 playing for the NRL premiership against the Melbourne Storm.

Last year he was 1000-1 to be playing for an NRL premiership; his Eels were struggling and Inu suffered the classic second-season syndrome.

An ankle injury which wrecked much of his season didn’t help, but his form slump was enough for Kiwis coach Steve Kearney to deliver a verbal wake-up call at the World Cup where he played a solitary match against Papua New Guinea.

Then, early this year his form matched that of his team as the Eels struggled through, before storming home to win 10 of their last 11 matches.

“The start that I had was a bit dusty and everyone knows I could have played a bit better. I know I could have,” Inu said.

“To be where I am now, I’m grateful to be part of the team and preparing for a grand final.”

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The turnaround? Not a rark-up from coach Daniel Anderson, or captain Nathan Cayless, but the club’s trainer Hayden Knowles, who is also a highly respected member of the Kiwis’ staff.

“I just had a challenge given to me by Hayden to show everyone and prove to everyone that I really want to be there. Just show it on the field. That’s been the key to my form.

“It was more an attitude thing. You can’t do everything at training and not perform. It was two different sides to the coin.”

Simple. As the Eels grew in confidence, so did Inu.

The man dubbed the “smiling assassin” stepped up in the make-or-break game against Wests Tigers in round 24, but then suffered a hamstring strain.

After two weeks on the sidelines he got the nod from Anderson in last weekend’s grand final dress rehearsal against the Bulldogs.

As the Eels fans roared, Inu delivered again with some punishing defence with centre partner Joel Reddy, and the mercurial attack that saw Brian McClennan pluck him from reserve grade for the Kiwis in 2007.

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“I was lucky the team got those two wins without me in the side and gave me the chance to go out on the field when my leg was ready,” Inu said.

“The timing was great, playing a game before the grand final and getting a crack at the trophy.”

Re-signing with the Eels was another boost, along with the news former Wallaby Timana Tahu was returning from rugby to Parramatta next year.

Tahu reportedly implored the Eels to retain Inu, who was in danger of being cut under the strict salary cap. Inu could barely contain his excitement at the thought of teaming up with his mentor.

“He’s definitely been an influence,” Inu said.

“In my debut year, he was someone I looked up to before I played NRL and lucky for me I got to play with him. I was 18 or 19, it was his first year at the club. It was great to see him around the gym and in the sheds, it was big ups for me.

“He’s just like an older brother that you can have fun with and enjoy the footy and know that no matter what happens he’ll always be on your side and encourage you on the field.”

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So it all adds up to a relaxed, confident Inu.

After a rollercoaster two years, his mantra is to relax and treat each game like any other. He’s even tried to tell himself this week isn’t anything special, despite nearly every Parramatta local backslapping him and yelling “good luck”.

A bus load of family and church friends will make the short trip to scream their support on Sunday night.

He will also be inspired by the tattoo of his parents’ names, Malo and Fay, on his left arm which was inked during his lowest ebb last year.

“I always wanted a tattoo and the best thing I could get was their names. I didn’t want anything you could regret. You can’t go wrong with your mum and dad’s names.

“It’s not only a big game for me but for them as parents and my No.1 supporters in my career.

“Week in, week out they just want to see me happy and having fun out there. Just playing hard and not worry too much about performing as everyone expects and wants me to. Play my own game and do my best for the team.”

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