Gosiewski re-signs after wretched run ruined Rabbitohs stint
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Manly's Jack Gosiewski has inked a new two-year deal as the Sea Eagles resurgence pits him against the South Sydney side that declined to extend his time at Redfern due to a wretched injury run.
Gosiewski confirmed his new contract will keep him in maroon and white until the end of 2021 with NRL.com on Monday.
And come Friday the rising back-rower will be trying to bait his former teammate Cody Walker once more and reignite their running battle from a round-five clash at Lottoland.
The Rabbitohs never saw the best of Gosiewski as he rose from South Sydney's junior ranks to a 2016 Telstra Premiership debut, before tabling him a two-year extension.
Gosiewski backed himself to earn a better deal and knocked it back, only to be struck down by a torn patella tendon that ruled him out for four months.
Nerve damage in his neck and a broken collarbone had limited his game time at Souths even further, with the club declining to offer him a new deal and Manly picking him up in late 2017.
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A broken hand, then a broken arm – followed by an infection – still dogged him during his first year at Manly while Gosiewski is still managing a pelvis injury that in all likelihood should have ended his season.
But Des Hasler's faith has now translated into a genuine run in the Sea Eagles starting side and job security to boot.
"It's exciting, we're in a position where we're going well this year and we're not done yet," Gosiewski told NRL.com.
Match: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
"It's great to be on board for the next two years.
"There was a little bit of interest from other clubs, but I didn't want to move. Des has done such a good job here this year and I'm in the starting side.
"I didn't want to go to a different club and go back down the pecking order again so my interest was to stay here from the start."
Gosiewski credits former Souths coach Michael Maguire for instilling discipline in him as a youngster, before Manly and Hasler especially added the polish that made him a constant threat on their right edge in Saturday's upset of Cronulla.
He'll occupy the same channel opposite Walker at ANZ Stadium with Gosiewski predicting a few sparks and sledges in equal measure to fly once more.
"I've still got mates there, last time we played them I was actually getting into Cody Walker a little bit," Gosiewski grins.
"It's exciting coming up against them. I imagine they'll be trying to get into me and it'll be the same way.
"He definitely bit back that day. He's quite easy to stir up, he's not hard to get a bite out of.
"I won't say what we getting into each other a bit. It's all good fun and he's a very competitive person so that'll be a good challenge."
