by Andrew Prentice Manly Daily May 21, 2014
HE ARRIVED at the club last pre-season from the Raiders as a potential direct swap for Tony Williams.
But Michael Chee-Kam’s expected smooth transit
ion from under-20s NYC standout to the weekly rigours of the NRL hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.
The hulking 22-year-old is the first to concede he has been injury-prone in maroon and white, be it his knee, elbow or ankle.
“Last year was tough, it seemed every time I was in the mix for a call-up to first grade something else went wrong,” the second-rower told the Manly Daily.
“I was happy to get a call up for the Auckland Nines (in February), but once again I got hurt, I couldn’t believe it.
“My family has been great, they are very supportive and make sure I am always feeling positive no matter what happens on the field or at training.”
Chee-Kam, a former Australian Schoolboy representative, was buzzing when the news came through that the Sea Eagles were interested in his services at the end of 2012.
Sitting behind the likes of Joel Thompson and Josh Papalii at Canberra, shifting to the northern beaches made sense.
“Manly have a winning culture, and potentially being involved in a premiership was very enticing for me,” he said.
“While I haven’t played NRL yet, I am finally stringing a few games together in the NSW Cup which has been good for my confidence.”
The electric form of Samoan international Jesse Sene-Lefao off the bench this season also leaves Chee-Kam confident he can do a job for coach Geoff Toovey.
“I’m very close with Jesse, and he has shown what he can do after he was given an opportunity,” he said.
“He lives around the corner from me and we are always swapping ideas on different things.
“I am off contract next year so obviously I would like to show what I can do at NRL level. Touch wood I am over my injuries and that I can make my debut when the time is right.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/raiders-recruit-ready-for-nrl-call-up/story-fngr8iii-1226925959195
