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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cI got rushed into surgery, so I didn\u2019t really get to understand what was happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would definitely be up there (with the worst pain I\u2019ve experienced). I was trying to go to sleep and I was thinking, \u2018Should I call them or not?\u2019 <\/p>\n
\u201cThen when I really started to feel a lot of pain and I couldn\u2019t move, that\u2019s when I was like, \u2018I better call them\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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, and that\u2019s when that stuff started coming up. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I was like, \u2018Just do the surgery so I can get it over and done with\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I woke up, I saw my leg still there, so I was like, \u2018It\u2019d be pretty bad if I woke up and my leg wasn\u2019t there\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just pretty lucky to be in this position. I\u2019m still breathing and I\u2019m still alive. Being in ICU, I saw a lot of other people that don\u2019t get a second chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mariner is recovering well from the freak condition, with the winger explaining everything he\u2019s been through in recent weeks. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe first two surgeries, they were opening up my leg to release the pressure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen over the next five surgeries, they had to close it up little by little.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t used to going back under anaesthetics for that long. It was pretty full on, but I was in such good hands. <\/p>\n
\u201cShout out to Dr Gupta and his team at St Vincent\u2019s Private Hospital. They were the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to be here today if it wasn\u2019t for them. Even the doctors were saying they haven\u2019t seen this happen before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in such good hands. I\u2019m not too stressed about the next couple weeks. At the moment my leg is stuck a bit, so once that opens up, I\u2019ll be able to start moving again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of confidence in myself to get back out there again for the Broncos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Incredibly, Mariner expects to be back before the finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re looking around the eight-week mark (for returning to play),\u201d Mariner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we\u2019ve still got plenty more games to go, so I\u2019ll just have to take it day by day and let the body heal itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives me a bit more hunger to get back out there. At the same time, I just want to make sure that I\u2019m doing the best for myself and putting myself in a good position for my body to heal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a pretty hectic week. My leg is doing a lot better and I am back home now which helps. I\u2019m good. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the time comes, I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n