IN-FORM Fiji winger Sisa Waqa has been cleared to play for Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final against Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday.
Waqa missed the preliminary final against Manly Sea Eagles last week after landing on his knee during training last Friday. He later pulled out during the team's warm-up prior to the Manly game.
Waqa has been on top of his game week in, week out, for the Storm.
The former Flying Fijians flyhalf has quickly adapted to his new wing position with the Storm.
Waqa will be the first Fijian to appear in an NRL grand final match since Jarryd Hayne played for Parramatta Eels in 2009.
"It's heaps better," Waqa told the age.com.au.
"After the scans on Saturday I got two injections, a cortisone and one that takes a bit of fluid out, and I feel heaps better.
"The whole day yesterday I got some treatment on it and kept icing it and this morning I feel a lot better.
"I didn't want to play a 50 or 60 per cent (capacity) which is no good for the team.
"It is a tough call, I was pretty disappointed. I was a bit shattered but I had faith the boys would get up on Friday night so I decided to pull out."
And yesterday, Fiji National Rugby League development officer Joe Rabele said Waqa was improving every week and even though he was highly rated first five-eighth in Fiji, he was quickly stamping his mark in his new position.
"He has developed well on the wing and I believe he is going to play a good game in the grand final if he is fit," Rabele said.
Rabele said Waqa had a lot to offer for Storm which was why they signed him up.
He said Waqa would be of great worth for the Fiji Bati rugby league in the future.
"If he is contracted with a club like Storm, then we can figure out the calibre of player he is. He will be a huge asset during our preparation period for the world cup," Rabele added.
The Telstra Premiership NRL grand final will be played at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.