Hoodoo guru: Sironen hopes injury curse is over

There is no guesswork needed when you contemplate what Manly forward Curtis Sironen's new year resolution might be.

Considering he's played just 20 games in his first two seasons for the Sea Eagles due to a pectoral tear (2017) and a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (2018), you'd be on the money if you said he'd asked for no more season-wrecking injuries.

"It was setback after setback. My first goal this year, apart from wanting to play good footy, is to play every game," Sironen told NRL.com.

"I will build confidence off the back of that. I'll be ready for round one and I want to play every game."

The North Ryde Hawks junior remembers few bad injuries as he worked his way through the ranks at Balmain.

"I had a shoulder reconstruction when I was 19 but I had no other injuries growing up," Sironen said.

"I've just been unlucky in seniors. I've tried to rehab myself as well as possible but it just seems that I get back and something else lets me down."

The 25-year-old second rower is about to enter his eighth NRL season but he's still 15 games shy of his 100th game.

"Of course you wonder if this run [of injuries] will stop me from playing, and do I have to look at something else?

"This last one [ACL] was really hard for me. I started the year really well and then 'bang'," Sironen said of damaging his knee in the round four win over the Raiders.

To see those successful Manly sides under Des, you knew he was some sort of genius

Curtis Sironen on Des Hasler

"I'd never had any problems with my knees, so for that to rule my year out really hit me."

But as soon as the 2019 Telstra Premiership draw was unveiled, there was light over Sironen's horizon. Manly will play the Wests Tigers in round one at Leichhardt Oval.

"The year I first came to Manly [2017], we played the Tigers twice and I missed both games within that six-week period," he said.

"So I'm yet to verse the old boys – not that there are many teammates left from my time. It will still be good, especially at Leichhardt. I played all my junior footy there.

"It's been something that has helped me get through all the rehab I've had, but now I'm back training with the boys, it's something to really look forward to."

Due to the disruption at both the Wests Tigers and Sea Eagles as far as the head coaching role goes, Sironen has had a few mentors over the past eight years.

It started with Tim Sheens back in 2012, then rolled through Mick Potter, Jason Taylor, Trent Barrett and now Des Hasler.

"It is hard because you sort of get comfortable with a coach, get along well with him," Sironen said. "So it's hard to adjust to completely new structures and a new voice in your ear.

"It is a new dynamic but in the end, you've still got to get on the field and score more tries than the opposition.

"But I'm happy where I am. I wouldn't change it as I get lots of good eyes on me telling me where I need to improve."

Like many in the Sea Eagles squad, he had little knowledge of what Hasler would be like to work with.

"Obviously I've been a footy fan forever and to see those successful Manly sides under Des, you knew he was some sort of genius," he said.

"I didn't know too much about him and I didn't ask too many people about him. It was just exciting to have a fresh face; a bit of a change.

"Already his discipline and other things like that will be really good for us."