Pain following surgery left Tyson Gamble wanting to cut his hand off but the Newcastle five-eighth insists he is now fully fit and ready to act as the Knights' super-sub in the NRL finals.
Gamble made a miraculous return to the field on Sunday only 18 days after surgery to repair a broken hand, starting from the bench during a 14-6 defeat of the Dolphins that confirmed Newcastle's finals berth.
Gamble had broken the third metacarpal in his right hand making a tackle on Ronaldo Mulitalo during the Knights' golden-point loss to Cronulla last month, and had a metal plate and several screws inserted into his hand as part of his surgery.
But when doctors told Gamble he'd have the chance to return to the field this season, the 28-year-old was sceptical.
"I didn't feel like it straight after surgery. I wanted to chop my hand off because I was in that much pain," he told AAP.
"But the swelling went down pretty quick and the pain is pretty much non-existent now.
"They weren't worrying about it breaking again, they were worried about the actual wound (from the surgery) opening back up. But luckily it's all good."
Jack Cogger took Gamble's place next to halfback Phoenix Crossland during his injury absence, marking the eighth time this season Newcastle had changed their halves pairing.
When Cogger and Crossland found immediate chemistry to help the Knights score 36 points in consecutive weeks - their highest total for the season - Gamble knew he would struggle to reclaim his starting spot.
"I don't think you can really move Phoenix and 'Cogs'," he said.
"They've been really good, Phoenix on that left edge has been defending unbelievable. He hasn't really overplayed his hand at all.
"'Cogs' taking over the team on that right edge as well has been really good."
Gamble played a roving role after coming on for the final 16 minutes of the win over the Dolphins, offering cover in the halves and the ability to play through the middle.
He is keen to reprise his bench role for the sudden-death finals clash with North Queensland on Saturday night and promises to have more impact than against the Dolphins.
"I was running around a bit like a headless chook, I was a bit lost," he said.
"I don't come off the bench often and coming on at the end of the game is a bit different.
"I was trying to do a little too much and come up with a few plays that weren't all that great. I'll learn from it.
"I'm happy to play off the bench and just do what the coach wants me to do from there. As long as I'm playing, I'm happy."
