IT took all of a couple of minutes for Wendell Sailor to remind the rugby league world that one of the game’s true personalities was back.
The dual international has confirmed he signed with St George Illawarra through to the end of the 2009 NRL season but his signature on contract was not what had lured the media throng to Wollongong.
They were there for two reasons – to see what shape the former Brisbane, Queensland and Australian rugby league star was in after two year’s out with a drug ban, and whether his time away had curbed his charismatic ways.
His image in a tight-fitting red V jumper showed he was in good nick with room for a few kilos to be wasted – but the verbal signal proved the real Del was ready.
"I’d say I’m quicker than before," the 33-year-old said.
"If anything, the two years has freshened me up a little bit and obviously those couple of years in rugby certainly I didn’t get that many hits."
It didn’t end there either. Asked if he had learnt any new tricks during his stint in rugby which ended midway through 2006 at the New South Wales Waratahs when he was banned after being caught using cocaine – a straight-faced Sailor replied: "Before I left rugby league I didn’t have kicking skills but I think my kicking’s all right."
Dragons coach Nathan Brown confirmed Sailor would return on the wing on Saturday night in the relative obscurity of the Jim Beam Cup with the Shellharbour Marlins.
