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Canterbury's Kyle Flanagan admits being dropped from first grade has been the toughest time of his career as he prepares for his NRL return this weekend.
Kyle Flanagan has revealed how he has struggled watching NRL from the sidelines this year, admitting it has been the "toughest time" of his career.
Flanagan will play just his second game since early May when the Bulldogs face Gold Coast on Sunday, after the big-name recruit was dumped after just nine rounds.
The 22-year-old's struggles at the last-placed Bulldogs have been widely documented, after he was pushed out by the Sydney Roosters at the end of last year.
Initially being dropped after Canterbury's 1-8 start to 2021, Flanagan was brought back into a team stretched by COVID-19 bans against Manly with the ensuing 66-0 loss resulting in him being dumped again.
"I feel like I'm making my debut on the weekend," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"It's probably been the hardest part of my career and definitely a learning curve, but I got a lot out of it and I'm quite a positive person.
"I train so hard and had a goal in mind that I wanted to get back into this footy team.
"My moments here now and I cant wait to get on the field on Saturday.
Flanagan denied speculation surrounding recent reports of a potential move to the northern hemisphere's Super League, if he can't find a consistent role at the Bulldogs.
The halfback has suffered through a lack of game time in recent weeks, with no NSW Cup football to play since the start of the latest Sydney coronavirus outbreak.
But regardless, Flanagan insists he does not need to do anything different to prove a point against the Titans.
"I just have to go out there and enjoy my footy," he said.
"I've been treating that (training) like a game, take the mouth guard and put the pads on and really treat it like a game."
"Sometimes we can over complicate things quite a bit.
"He (Trent) wants me to go out there and enjoy myself, play my natural game and work myself into the game as much as I can."