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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The pain in Deine Mariner\u2019s leg was so excruciating, he couldn\u2019t grasp the reality of losing his leg and having his rugby league career being slammed closed.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until he arrived at a Sydney hospital that he realised the acute compartment syndrome diagnosis \u2013 suffered in the Broncos\u2019 defeat to the Sydney Roosters this month \u2013 could change his life forever.<\/p>\n \u201cI got rushed into surgery, so I didn\u2019t really get to understand what was happening, but all I knew was there was a lot of pressure in my leg at the time,\u201d Mariner revealed on Wednesday, speaking for the first time since the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cThe blood flow was starting to stop going into my leg. I didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I didn\u2019t think about it too much \u2013 when I woke up, I saw my leg was still there. Even after, I know people were saying I could\u2019ve [lost my leg], but I didn\u2019t, and am pretty lucky to be in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Three weeks later and Mariner says he\u2019s hopeful of returning to the NRL in eight weeks. At first, it was thought he had suffered a cork to his thigh, and he returned to the field to finish the game.<\/p>\n That was until he experienced severe pain in the early hours of the morning and called his doctor at 2.30am.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t too sure if they were going to pick up, but they picked up straight away and actually gave me the early diagnosis of the compartment syndrome \u2013 which I\u2019d never heard of before \u2013 and they rushed me straight to hospital,\u201d Mariner said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to go to sleep and thinking if I should call him or not, and when I really started to feel a lot of pain and I couldn\u2019t move, that\u2019s when I thought I\u2019d better call him.\u201d<\/p>\n Acute compartment syndrome is a condition in which dangerously high pressure builds in a muscle compartment, restricting blood flow while preventing oxygen from getting to muscles and nerves.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old remained in a Sydney hospital to undergo six surgeries, as doctors fought to ensure his limb remained intact. Such was the severity of his condition, Mariner\u2019s wound needed to remain open, or else risk further damage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first two surgeries they were opening up my leg to release pressure, and then over the next [four] surgeries, they had to close it up little by little. They couldn\u2019t close it at the same time because there was a high chance it could happen again,\u201d Mariner explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the only part that was really draining, having to do a lot more surgeries than usual because I wasn\u2019t used to going back under anaesthetics for that long. It was pretty full on, but I was in such good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Mariner has now returned to Brisbane as he continues his rehabilitation, and is hopeful of making a comeback in time to help the Broncos mount a late push for consecutive premierships, which would also make him available to fly the Samoan flag at this year\u2019s World Cup in Australia.<\/p>\n But he wasn\u2019t always so upbeat, admitting that he had been concerned his playing days were over.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a way I did. Obviously I had so much time to think because I was in that hospital all week, but I had such good support \u2013 my mum, my sister, my partner, [Broncos wellness and education manager] Adam Walsh \u2013 so I didn\u2019t have to think like that,\u201d Mariner said.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to look at the bright things \u2013 I was still breathing and still alive, and I think being in an ICU, I saw a lot of other people who don\u2019t get a second chance. I was pretty grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Mariner\u2019s next step will be to get mobility back in his leg, as he is currently unable to completely bend it. But he remains confident no more surgeries will be required.<\/p>\n While the Broncos took some early heat for allowing Mariner to continue to play on that fateful night, the man himself stressed he never felt any pressure from anyone to make that move, while confirming he had been told by doctors his case was so rare, they had never seen it before.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely didn\u2019t feel any pressure to go out there that night, that was my own decision. I knew I could play, so I\u2019m never going to not play for this team,\u201d Mariner said.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak for anyone else, I can only speak for myself, but I don\u2019t feel any pressure to play through injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Deine\u00a0Mariner](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/81cd6940abf67fa44d4e60c53807bfc2c58398a4.jpeg\")
Deine\u00a0Mariner has shed some light on how close he came to losing his leg.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Kalyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779257652_349_f19501f6c3e14a9f89ea084e9d86e45cd4282c1b.jpeg\")
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