Jordan Kahu back to full fitness

The pain is gone and a reborn Jordan Kahu is certain he will have some extra spark in his running game after surgery on a groin injury which restricted him to only “60 or 70 per cent” fitness in 2017.

The 26-year-old Kiwi international battled through the pain barrier to play 25 games for the Broncos after suffering the injury in round seven against the Titans.

Kahu had groin surgery and a knee cleanout at the end of the season and was forced to sit out the World Cup campaign for the Kiwis.

He had been in rehab for most of the pre-season leading up to Christmas, but after an intense full contact hitout in the searing Brisbane sun on Monday he told NRL.com how he was now in much better shape.

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“I always tell the physios that I feel so much better now, after my groin held me back so much last year,” he said.

“When I run I have no pain. Every time I ran last season I had pain in my groin but now I feel so much more free.

“I felt like I lost a bit of that [spark] last year. I wasn’t too happy with the way things went but I am excited for this year because I am feeling a lot more comfortable.

“I could have played in the World Cup but I would have been at 60 or 70 per cent which is probably what I was playing at for most of the year.

“Going to the World Cup and coming back and having surgery, I would have missed a fair bit of pre-season and probably the start of the season as well which wouldn’t have been ideal.”

Kahu’s goal kicking is vital for the Broncos. He kicked at over 79% in 2017 but was unable to practice for most of it.

“I went from training four times a week to not training at all because I had to save every kick for the games,” he said.

“Not being able to practice showed in my goal kicking after I was heading towards that 90% in the first quarter of the year, but after I hurt my groin against the Titans it slowly went down and down.

“Hopefully I can start practicing again soon.”

Kahu’s versatility is a valued asset at the Broncos despite him playing mostly on the right wing in recent times.

He was a star at fullback in his schoolboy days at Keebra Park High and can also play centre and five-eighth when required.

“That was my first full session back with the boys and I was training a bit at centre,” Kahu said.

“I’m not too sure where I will fit this year. We have a few new boys and the forward mix will change a lot and that could affect us backs.

“I am pretty comfortable in most positions. I have filled in at centre when boys have been injured and have played there quite often.

“The one year I was meant to play five-eighth was in 2014. I trained there the whole pre-season and got injured in one of the trials and missed out on the opportunity. I played a couple of games at five-eighth in the 20s as well.

“Sometimes I just want to know what position I am playing so I can put everything into it and excel, but I guess that does add value when I can fill in for the team where need be.”