Tyrell Fuimaono was prepared to move on.
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Having accepted a five-game ban for a hip-drop tackle in a trial match, the Dragons enforcer was ready to focus on the path ahead.
But then Fuimaono watched the opening rounds of the NRL from the sidelines and the frustration only started to grow.
Not only had the league changed the entire judiciary model just weeks after the forward was suspended, but the grading scale appears to have been recalibrated.
It's a situation that came to a head on Monday, Jared Warea-Hargreaves not penalised or charged for a tackle that left Jaydn Su'A with an injured ankle, while Daniel Tupou avoided the sin bin for a vicious high shot on Mikaele Ravalawa.
For Fuimaono, the inconsistency was glaring.
"Unfortunately I've been in a few judiciaries and gone through the grading process," Fuimaono said. "I am familiar with how it works.
"After seeing a few that have happened in the last few weeks, I do think either they've eased on it or something has changed.
"The one Jared did on Su'A, I got charged with one last year on Junior Paulo, that there was textbook, the exact same.
"I don't expect him to get five weeks, but given that Su'A was severely injured, there should've been some kind of kickback from it, but there was nothing.
"I do feel like it's a bit unfair, but I have done my time now and I hope to put that all behind me."
Had Fuimaono been punished under the new model for the tackle on Haze Dunster, he would have faced just two weeks on the sidelines.
Instead loading and carryover points saw a base penalty of three weeks grow to five.
While frustrated at the situation he found himself in, Fuimaono spent the time working on his technique.
After two weeks in NSW Cup, the forward is set to return to the NRL for his side's clash with the Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
The Dragons have received a boost, with five-eighth Jack Bird cleared of a broken arm and likely to line up, provided he passes a fitness test on Saturday.
With a new defensive approach, Fuimaono is confident it will be the start of a trouble-free run in the side.
"I haven't been doing these things intentionally, but they're still costing me games and time on the sidelines," he said.
"I've made a conscious effort in this five-week period to try to amend that and hopefully I don't find myself in a similar position again."
In some ways, Fuimaono has been a victim of the changing nature of rugby league.
The breakneck speed the game is now played at has led to fewer gang tackles and increased the risk of dragging a player to the ground.
Having had the importance of getting a player on his back drilled into him for years, the Dragons forward recognises it's a tough mindset to shake overnight.
"Before, getting guys to the ground was a win. I found myself pulling them to the ground by any means and that can result in them getting into a bad position or me pulling down on to the legs.
"Now the game's faster and two-man tackles are a lot more common, finishing standing up is more popular.
"It's just not feeling the rush to drag someone to the ground and being content at controlling and holding in a standing up position. That eliminates the chances of me pulling on to someone's leg."
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