It took "the greatest sportsman of all time" Michael Jordan virtually a full season after his comeback to regain his crown as the king of basketball.
So it will be some time before Air Gasnier takes flight on his return to the NRL, according to experienced St George Illawarra lock Dean Young.
Young drew the comparison as he moved to deflate growing expectation surrounding Mark Gasnier's first game in the Red V since leaving for French rugby at the end of 2008.
Full coverage of the Dragons After winning the 1993 NBA crown with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan made a failed bid to make it in Major League baseball, before returning to the court 18 months later.
Jordan couldn't lift the Bulls to another title when he returned mid-season in 1995.
But after a full pre-season, he reminded the world why he was the best by winning the finals' MVP award in each of the 1996, 1997 and 1998 series triumphs.
Gasnier is yet to win a premiership in 141 games for the Dragons, but takes his first steps towards making his NRL comeback in the top-of-the-table showdown with Penrith on Monday night.
Just before 10am yesterday, Gasnier emerged from a team meeting to run out for his first training session on the back field at WIN Stadium.
After the stretching, passing drills and touch football, Gasnier slotted back into his old position at right centre and moving at half-pace, took a cut-out pass from five-eighth Jamie Soward.
And while Dragons fans are hoping to see him in full flight against the Panthers, Young warned they wouldn't see his breathtaking best until next season.
"I don't think he's going to be the same player as he was when he left," Young said.
"Michael Jordan - the greatest sportsman of all time - took 10 months to get back to his greatest, so I'm sure Gaz won't be at his best this year.
"It's all up in the air isn't it, but it's unfair to expect Gaz to be the player he was.
"I can't see that happening this year, I'm sure he'll get back to his best at some stage next year, but this year it's about him getting back and fitting in the team somewhere.
"It's also about him getting used to the defensive structure that we use under Wayne Bennett now and getting some fitness up.
"He's been out of the game, he probably hasn't tackled anyone or played a hard game of footy in 18 months, so it's not about Gaz coming out and being brilliant."
Pot shots at rugby union aside, Gasnier is expected to be included in the final 17 on Monday, with four Dragons on State of Origin duty, including NSW centre Beau Scott.
However, he may come off the interchange bench, with Young declaring he didn't expect Gasnier to make it through the full 80 minutes.
"He's going to be doing it tough out there," Young said.
"Of course (Penrith are) going to run players at him, that's just the smart thing to do.
"He'll be expecting that and I'm sure he'll do well."
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