Guest Column - Simon Finnigan: It's great to be back and put an end to my injury nightmare

I HAD suffered problems with my neck and shoulder for a long time and had been getting pins and needles in my arm and tingly fingers during and after games.

There was a decompression problem in my neck. They had to drill in there at the end of last season and shave some of the sides away near the nerves but there was a lot more damage than they expected.

Afterwards, I suffered a lot of agonising headaches whenever I'd try to do the slightest exercise.

I'd have to lie down for hours on end and there were times when I thought about packing it all in. Around Christmas was really testing and into January and February.

I'd originally been told I'd be playing again by April but when that time came around, I was still nowhere near being fit – I couldn't even run – and was thinking 'what's the point?'

(Giants rehabilitation chief) Greg Brown turned it around for me. It was about 10 weeks ago when he got me back going again and to finally play last Friday was brilliant.

It has been the end of a nightmare and there's been no more pins and needles or stinging pains, just the usual soreness.

I'm looking forward to the run-in now. Most of the players have played more than 20 games but I've only played one. I should be the freshest.

I've trained pretty hard as well and have effectively had three pre-seasons.

The Hull KR match was some game to come back for. I've never been in a finish like it.

We won a fixture in the last second with Bradford in Perpignan a couple of years ago when I scored after Paul Deacon had put a great kick to the corner.

We really needed that as we'd lost about four in a row and there was pressure on a few different people to get a victory in France.

But the game last week was even crazier when you consider everything that happened in the last 60 seconds with both Kev Brown and David Hodgson having 'tries' disallowed by the video referee.

We were losing 16-14 and also won a scrum against the head which probably hasn't happened for about 20 years.

Then it was just frantic. Brett Hodgson kicked a touchline penalty after the hooter to get us the draw and it was all a bit mad.

It was certainly difficult physically for me. It was always going to be a struggle knowing I'd missed 10 months and the second half was hard, especially because of the amount of defence we had to do.

I'm not complaining, though. It was just a great feeling to be back out there again with the Giants and I was happier than anyone.

Next up we're at Castleford on Sunday.

They are a dangerous side, always have been. If you don't turn up, they'll make you pay. Bradford found that out at the weekend and Cas got a third win on the bounce.

We know it will be tough but if we win 80 per cent of our remaining eight games we'll finish in the top four and that's the aim.

Saying it is one thing. Now we have to do it. I'm just glad I'm around to play my part.

Interview by Dave Craven.