Daniel Abraham admitted to feeling a bit lost.
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It was January and for the first time he could remember, the former Newcastle Knights premiership winner didn’t have a footy season to prepare for.
But a conversation with 11-year-old son Lane changed all that and, after what seemed like a fairytale finale winning last season’s title with man-of-the-match honours, Abraham is out of retirement and back on the teamsheet for the Macquarie Scorpions in 2018 chasing back-to-back crowns.
“It was a short lived retirement. The boys are already calling me John Farnham,” the 37-year-old, father-of-two from Killingworth told Fairfax Media.
“Last year I was pretty set on giving it away. At the time there were plenty of reasons. It had become quite challenging managing work as a personal trainer and time with the kids and I was struggling with that a little bit. This year things seem to be a bit easier.
“And to be honest, at the start of January I was a little bit lost. I didn’t know what to do? Because at that time every year I’d generally be preparing myself for another year of battle on the footy field.
“Actually, as silly as it sounds, I had a conversation with my eldest son, who is almost 12. I was telling him about how I was struggling and he hit me with the ‘he wants me to play’ and that’s all it took. I didn’t take much encouraging.”
Abraham said getting through the pre-season was key to his return in the opening three rounds, which have produced wins over Lakes, Central and Souths.
“It wasn’t a decision I took lightly,” he said.
“And when I did decide to try again I did the whole pre-season and didn’t make my final decision until after that. If I didn’t get through and come out the other side in good condition and feel like I could handle the ups and downs of a footy season than I wouldn’t have done it.
“I didn’t want to be one of those guys who try one more time and break down halfway through the year … but I’m probably fitter and stronger than I was at this time last year and now here I am on the teamsheet.”
Abraham carefully considered the high of September’s grand-final upset over favourites Western Suburbs at McDonald Jones Stadium, but defending the silverware.
“As far as fairytale endings go, you couldn’t ask for much better,” he said.
“But I guess if I still had that bit of hunger come January, what do you do? The challenge is this year, can we go back to back?”
Abraham, who is coaching youngest son Reade in the Glendale Gorillas under 6s, said the “self-belief” and “effort” at Lyall Peacock Field was the best it’s been since returning to his junior club from Kurri in 2016.
Macqurie Scorpions will host Maitland in Round 4 at Lyall Peacock Field this Saturday at 3.30pm.