Broncos winger Deine Mariner is set to make a miraculous return to the footy field this season just weeks after there were legitimate fears the grand final hero could lose a leg as a result of a rare medical condition.
Mariner required emergency surgery earlier this month after what was initially thought to be a nasty cork developed into acute compartment syndrome and a mad dash to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
The Samoan star suffered the setback against the Roosters in round nine and was forced from the field before he was eventually brought back on to cover for another injury.
Mariner thanked Broncos medical staff for answering a phone call from his hotel room in the middle of the night as things quickly deteriorated, with the winger requiring several surgeries to save his leg.
“I got rushed into surgery, so I didn’t really get to understand what was happening,” he said.
“All I knew was that there was a lot of pressure on my leg at the time. And I think a lot of the blood flow was starting to stop going into my leg.
“It would definitely be up there (with the worst pain I’ve experienced). I was trying to go to sleep and I was thinking, ‘Should I call them or not?’
“Then when I really started to feel a lot of pain and I couldn’t move, that’s when I was like, ‘I better call them’.
“I didn’t even think of that (losing my leg) as an option until I got to the hospital and they were checking for the pulse in my foot, and that’s when that stuff started coming up.
“But I was like, ‘Just do the surgery so I can get it over and done with’.
“When I woke up, I saw my leg still there, so I was like, ‘It’d be pretty bad if I woke up and my leg wasn’t there’.
“I’m just pretty lucky to be in this position. I’m still breathing and I’m still alive. Being in ICU, I saw a lot of other people that don’t get a second chance.”
Mariner is recovering well from the freak condition, with the winger explaining everything he’s been through in recent weeks.
“The first two surgeries, they were opening up my leg to release the pressure,” he said.
“Then over the next five surgeries, they had to close it up little by little.
“I wasn’t used to going back under anaesthetics for that long. It was pretty full on, but I was in such good hands.
“Shout out to Dr Gupta and his team at St Vincent’s Private Hospital. They were the best.
“I wouldn’t be able to be here today if it wasn’t for them. Even the doctors were saying they haven’t seen this happen before.
“I’m in such good hands. I’m not too stressed about the next couple weeks. At the moment my leg is stuck a bit, so once that opens up, I’ll be able to start moving again.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself to get back out there again for the Broncos.”
Incredibly, Mariner expects to be back before the finals.
“I think we’re looking around the eight-week mark (for returning to play),” Mariner said.
“Obviously we’ve still got plenty more games to go, so I’ll just have to take it day by day and let the body heal itself.
“It gives me a bit more hunger to get back out there. At the same time, I just want to make sure that I’m doing the best for myself and putting myself in a good position for my body to heal.
“It has been a pretty hectic week. My leg is doing a lot better and I am back home now which helps. I’m good.
“It was pretty full on with everything but I had a really good support group and the club were so good to me and my family. I am in a pretty good headspace.
“When the time comes, I’ll be ready.”
