<big>**Gibbs: I Was A Big Heap**</big>
**Posted: August 17, 2011\
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By STEVE MASCORD**
FUN-LOVING Wests Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs says he was nothing more than “a big heap” during the first half of this season.
Gibbs tells RLW his form resurgence is more related to off-field knee surgery than his shock departure to Cronulla. It was the firebrand of old who became involved in a push-and-shovewith the St George Illawarra pack late in Friday’s thrilling 14-12 Wests Tigers win.
“When you’re winning, everyone’s playing good but it took me a while,” the 26-year-old says. “I had no off-season. I did no running at all, had to have surgery on my knee. I’m just starting to come back for fitness.
“I was a big heap. I just wasn’t doing my usual stuff off the ball – or on the ball. I just do a lot of extras … doing a lot of stepper because I couldn’t do anything with my legs, had no leg muscles there, couldn’t do anything with my knee. Now it’s come back real good.
“I could probably play 60, 70, 80 minutes. We’ve got a good rotation.”
Gibbs added he “had to get one back on” the Dragons and has now settled into his role after being forced out of the club he wanted to be at for life.
“We worked hard to get these two wins because we lost the last two at home and we knew we had to make it up,” he said.
“For me personally, I had to get one back on them. It hurt … to get one short of the grand final.
“A month ago there were a lot of rumours going around about is and it sort of brought us close together. We just worked through it. We’ve been playing for each other, working for each other in defence and keeping teams to 12.
“There was a lot of shit out there about us. We had a talk about everything.”
It’s understood an intimation that his first grade chances in future would be limited and a small increase in pay – Wests Tigers will continue to pay part of his wage at Toyota Park – finally convinced him to leave.
“It was hard,” he says “I played for Wests since I was a kid. I grew up right next to Campbelltown Stadium. I supported Magpies, my favourite player was Skando (John Skandalis), Leedsy (Andrew Leeds), Cherry Mescia.
“I’m not going to explain (what happened). Maybe later.”
Filed for: RUGBY LEAGUE WEEK