NSW Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero has expressed his regret at a training incident that saw him suspended, eager to put it behind him and help the team move forward.
Amatosero returned to Daceyville this week and instantly made an impact as he helped the side to a 36-12 win over the Queensland Reds.
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The lock missed the two pre-season trials after a scuffle with Angus Scott-Young saw the former Reds' eye socket fractured amid several punches thrown.
“It's been a tough month. Everyone has handled the situation really well I regret that it happened and it shouldn't have happened," Amatosero said after the win
“Our trainings are geared, especially on a Friday, to take us to that level so I’ve got to be better in getting there and not going over it.
“We’ve all moved past it…[Angus and I] sorted that out and it’s done and dusted.”
During the suspension, Amatosero was prohibited from Waratahs HQ, working out in the early mornings at nearby Snape Park as the lock struggled with the fallout and being away from the group.
“I was training on my own. Some of the starts were 5:30 am or 6 am, and I do my field session and then head to the gym at Bondi Junction," he explained.
“It was so tough. My biggest thing is the boys and team, and being away from them, seeing how it affected the team really hurt.
“The boys moved on quickly, we all moved on quickly, and I think we're all better off for it. We’ve come together stronger, and I'm just so happy to be back, and I definitely miss the boys a lot.”
Amatosero knows he will be a target for future teams, starting with the Fijian Drua on Friday. The lock has had past run-ins with the Drua, who were furious at an incident during a maul last year that went unpunished.
But the Sydney-born lock wants to bring success to the Waratahs.
“That's how it's been for my entire footy career, just because I've been that physical player that most teams come looking for that anyway, regardless of what's happened, nothing's really changed," he said on the added scrutiny.
“For as long as I’ve been playing, it’s been like that, so it’s getting easier for me [to handle].
“..Being Sydney-born and raised, you can feel the frustration with a lot of the fan base and the community and I think everyone is getting behind us and feeling what we’re feeling about. We’ve got something good this year and this season and it’s exciting.”
