All healed up after having surgery on a troublesome knee that ruled him out of several consecutive seasons, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has formally made his return to the handball court as preseason preparations ramp up ahead of this year’s summer season.
[jwplayer gE4TuwJS]
In surprising scenes, Rudd rotated off the bench and saw actual game time during a tune up match at Brisbane’s John Paul College this afternoon, showcasing the skills that previously landed him the self-appointed title of “Global King of Handball” and displaying very little lost form.
Rudd’s surgically repaired knee appears to proving little hinderance to his overall game, which retains its strong and fabled East Coast Upright technique.
Quickly ascending to King, Rudd got the chance to flash his fabled serving game in front of a crowd of awed onlookers, including his signature “Wind Up” serve that the former PM famously innovated while in office.
Do or die effort today at John Paul College in Brisbane. My famous “wind up” serve dazzled the local kids. But I still lost. Just a warm-up, however, for my upcoming southern tour. All promoting @nafiaorg. Read more here https://t.co/IWgy8nNeQQ pic.twitter.com/GjDD0X1tFC
— Office of Kevin Rudd, 26th PM of Australia (@MrKRudd) August 26, 2019
Although clearly in third gear, Rudd showed flashes of his former heights that will do nothing to dispel the hype surrounding his return to top flight competition play, despite taking a quick L in today’s abbreviated hit out.
Expert predictions have Rudd finishing extremely high in the upcoming season, with the two-time Prime Minister expected to mount a major championship push despite the lengthy stint out of the game.
In a previous video statement announcing his return to the court, Rudd threw open challenges to every school yard in Australia and boldly declared “get ready to die.”
If the flashes of classic form today are anything to go by, we all might have to do just that.
