Feki solves aerial woes training with Storm favourite Kimmorley
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Melbourne's inaugural premiership-winning half Brett Kimmorley has helped Sosaia Feki take flight once more for the Sharks, turning around the aerial jitters and worrying form that threatened his Cronulla future earlier this year.
Feki was front and centre in a nailbiting 21-20 win over Penrith last Friday, flying high with a first half bat-down for Val Holmes to score and eventually set up a mouthwatering grand final qualifier against the Storm.
It was a far cry from Cronulla's round five loss to the Roosters, when two Feki errors led directly to Blake Ferguson tries and his first-grade axing.
At the time coach Shane Flanagan wondered "how long can you keep hanging your hat on" the 2016 premiership Feki was a part of.
After several weeks on the fringe of first grade and untimely injuries, Feki is back in form with four tries and an average of 149 metres a game in his last four outings.
The 27-year-old credits weekly training sessions with Kimmorley, a favourite son at both Melbourne and Cronulla in his 307-game career, as a catalyst for his timely revival.
"My confidence wasn't great when I was dropped," Feki told NRL.com.
"That put me back a bit, and I did go away and practice my work with the kicks, it's not a reputation you want.
Match: Storm v Sharks
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Sharks
6th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
"Noddy's been helping out the boys, the playmakers with their kicking and he's been helping us wingers too with catching. It's been great for us, the focus is trying to catch the ball at the highest point possible.
"That play, that's the kind of thing we're practising with Noddy, it's extras after training with him.
"(After the Roosters game) that was the message from Flanno. I needed to get better under the high ball and work on my catch. I've done that, it's been a focus.
"Getting the chance in the team came eventually and I took it with both hands. Here we are."
Feki will once again be fighting to keep his spot for the clash with Melbourne should Josh Dugan return from a shoulder issue, with either he or right winger Edrick Lee most likely to make way from the backline.
Feki is still contracted until the end of next season having first arrived at Cronulla as a 20-year-old who had been earning a crust as a part-time removalist in Auckland.
But at one point mid-season he had been by-passed by Lee and Sione Katoa in the Sharks pecking order, prompting suggestions he could be moved on to free up salary cap space to sign Aaron Woods.
Feki says he was not aware of such moves behind the scenes, and won't give his future too much thought until the 2018 season wraps up.
"I love it at the Sharks and I'm signed here for next year too," Feki said.
"I've been here six years. We'll see how we go, I'll keep my options open but I am quite happy here."
