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JAMAL Idris yesterday stripped off his shirt and showed league fans that he had obviously enjoyed the good life during his three weeks in the Toyota Cup.
Looking like he had just tucked into a few dagwood dogs at the nearby Royal Easter Show, flabby Idris was hard to miss as he huffed and puffed his way around the Homebush training paddock.
He stopped for drinks on a humid morning as a group of holidaying school kids tried to work out who the long-haired giant was.
But the 18-year-old centre, who returns to NRL action this Sunday for the first time since he was stood down for his late-night dust-up with Bulldogs teammate Ben Barba, is destined to make an impact in the nation's capital.
While Idris was barred from speaking to the press, Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore and his teammates were delighted to welcome the youngster back for the Canberra clash.
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Interestingly, after watching Idris remove his training shirt and parade his new-look physique, coach Moore denied his teenage star had slapped on weight while in the Toyota Cup.
"He's fine, he's not tubby at all," Moore said.
"He had a really good start to the year, had an outstanding game against Manly and then his next couple of games were good but, consistency-wise, there were a few errors in his footy. Then there was the hiccup (with Barba), but that's been dealt with and forgotten.
"He went back to the NYC (Toyota Cup) and worked on areas where we thought there were deficiencies. But he's done well and with Josh Morris out he's got his opportunity - his opportunity would have come shortly anyway."
Lock David Stagg was glad to see Idris on deck and tipped, err, big things from his teammate.
"Obviously he's an exciting talent and he brings a lot to the team," Stagg said.
"He's a strong lad and very good defensively. He would have learnt from what happened in recent weeks and hopefully it will make him a better person and player.
(As for his fitness) nothing has changed, he's doing everything we've been doing and from all reports he's still fighting fit."
Prop Ben Hannant said of Idris: "He's a great player and everybody forgets how young he is.
"We all expect him to have a head on him like a 24 or 25-year-old because he's so good, but you have to remember he is still a kid and he will make mistakes.
"But if you watched him in the Toyota Cup he went great, he is a freak of the game and definitely going to be a player who will be a superstar.
"He'll do a great job for us, he's got great people around him and he's willing to learn."
Idris burst on to the Bulldogs scene late last year and bagged a try for his efforts before a trail-blazing effort in the wet against the Sea Eagles in this year's season-opener. He scored two tries in the club's shock win.
Idris, who is still completing his HSC, was stood down last month after he tried to break up a fight between Barba and Lee Te Maari in the car park of Wenty Leagues Club.
Many tip Idris to cause the Raiders' outside men plenty of headaches this weekend as he makes up for lost time.
He has speed to burn and clear size about him.
Andrew Ryan did not train with the main group yesterday, but Moore said his skipper completed his own session and would be fine for Sunday.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25372339-5006066,00.html
