The last time Parramatta's Rueben Cherrington ran on the field for an NRLW opening match she was sidelined for eight months with an ankle injury.
Consequently the star hooker was extra motivated for the 2025 season opener against Cronulla and happily came through unscathed, helping her team hold on for a 18-16 win on Thursday night.
The victory has set the bar for the Eels' season, after just missing out on finals when fifth in the 2024 competition.
It was Cherrington's first game back since her 2024 round-one nightmare, but she said eight months on the sideline had fueled her motivation.
The 24-year-old played 54 minutes, and ran 95 metres, including four dummy-half runs.
"That mindset of just wanting to come back better, the choice wasn't mine to get taken out," she told AAP.
"It was just being able to take it, and get past that nervy kind of feeling.
"Just rip in now, and get the job done every single time."
Cherrington was joined in rehab by sister Kennedy, who sustained a season-ending knee injury just weeks later.
"I was sad for her when she joined me in rehab," she said.
"But I was like, 'did you miss me that much you wanted to come join me?
"Funny little banter between us, but she was a big rock for me. She's been through multiple injuries, so she knows what it's like."
Kennedy Cherrington is expected to return in a month after sustaining a separate knee injury during the State of Origin series.
Parramatta's 2025 lineup featured five debutants including Paige Travis (England) and Black Fern Martha Mataele.
Cherrington said she was impressed by the efforts of Tess McWilliams and Ryvrr-Lee Alo, who were both on debut for the Eels' top side, after playing for NSW in the State of Origin under-19s.
"It's not easy debuting in the middle," Cherrington said.
"The work ethic is crazy, so for them to just get this opportunity and to step into the NRLW, it's just amazing that the depth in power is there.
"They just showed up, got the job done, and the results of our game showed that."
It wasn't a case of round one deja-vu for Cherrington, but the score was exactly flipped from the teams' 2024 meeting, where the Sharks defeated Parramatta 18-16.
Steve Georgallis' crew will next face new additions the New Zealand Warriors, who return to the league after a four-year hiatus.
