Cronulla captain Cam McInnes has been around the block and can't think of many NRL players who have bounced back from adversity like Braydon Trindall has.
When he returned a roadside drug test positive to cocaine in April, Trindall's chance to cement himself as a full-time starting half was ripped from his grasp as quickly as he was handed it.
And as the Sharks' back-up playmaker Daniel Atkinson impressed during Trindall's six weeks out from the game, history threatened to repeat itself.
Having already spent years waiting for chances behind Matt Moylan, Chad Townsend, Nicho Hynes and Shaun Johnson, Trindall looked at risk of once again falling down the pecking order.
"He's had to go through a lot, not only this year but even biding his time and getting chances here and there," McInnes told AAP.
But since returning in round 13, Trindall has taken his game to new heights to help Cronulla cement a top-four finish and qualifying final date with Melbourne this Saturday.
He has finished the regular season averaging more run and kick metres, tries and try assists than in any prior year of his career - much of that form coming during an injury to halves partner Hynes.
For McInnes, talent has never been Trindall's greatest challenge.
"He's always had the ability, but he's taken some huge strides off the field," the captain said.
"From what he's been through at the start of the year, I don't know of many players who would come back stronger than before. I think he's come back stronger. I can't speak highly enough of that."
Trindall has now served his three-month suspension from driving and paid his $1100 court-ordered fine over the drug-driving incident.
But he remains his own biggest critic.
"The team's been pretty consistent throughout the year but just on a personal level, I've been pretty inconsistent with a few different dramas going on in my personal life," Trindall told AAP of his season.
"But when I've come back, I think I've put my best foot forward and been mostly consistent for the rest of the year."
Trindall sought advice from mental health specialists during his absence from the team, and credits former Sharks playmaker Jeff Robson for helping him turn things around on return.
Robson played 92 of his 176 NRL games for Cronulla, and like Trindall, needed to bide his time before becoming a regular starter in the NRL.
These days, Robson works in the Sharks' welfare and education club, and has become a mentor to Trindall this season.
"He knows all the ins and outs of footy," Trindall said.
"He's a good guy and he's very switched on outside footy as well. He's a genuine guy and he's just looking to help."
On the cusp of his second finals appearance, Trindall said he never had any doubt he'd be able to shrug off his self-described "dramas".
"There was a lot of work behind the scenes, and there still is a lot of work being done behind the scenes," he said.
"But when I get out on the footy field, it's just my happy place. When you're doing something you love, you just forget about your whole life."
