Rabbitohs prop George Burgess is hoping mid-season surgery to correct a number of issues will help him get back to his best footy while the team also hopefully rediscovers its mojo before the season is officially gone.
Saturday's heavy loss to Brisbane was Burgess's first NRL game since Round 11 but it was also a loss that means every game now for the club is must-win if they are to have any chance of forcing an unlikely finals berth in 2016.
Burgess said it was frustrating to be sidelined but at the same time philosophical about the nature of professional sport and is hoping the medical intervention benefits him through the back end of the season.
"I've been out for eight weeks so it was good to get back. It was [frustrating] but that's sport isn't it, you go through injuries and ups and downs with your body so it was a good decision to go and get it fixed up so hopefully I can go and move on from it now and keep going forward," he said.
"It definitely feels stronger in there and a lot tighter and stuff. I've been working hard with the pilates and stuff as well trying to get that going."
Elaborating on the groin issue that had been slowing him down, Burgess said there were multiple issues that required attention.
"I had a hernia and an issue with my adductor, a few tears in there, a few little procedures to fix it all up. It's still there, it doesn't go away but it's helped it."
Burgess got through more than 40 minutes against Brisbane, making 26 tackles and carrying the ball close to 100 metres with one tackle break but it was in vain as Brisbane rediscovered their form after a lean stretch and closed out a 30-10 win.
Despite pressure mounting on the Redfern club, Burgess said the players and coach Michael Maguire were prepared to work through the tough times.
"He's a great coach. I wouldn't say he likes these times but he revels in the tough periods, he's a very strong character so he'll do what he needs to do to get this team right," Burgess added.