Andrew Fifita’s wife Nikki opens up on Sharks star’s incredible return to rugby league

After copping a sickening on-field blow, Andrew Fifita’s wife Nikki feared his footy ‘journey’ could be over. But she will watch his comeback tonight with relief — and fear.

On the first night that Andrew Fifita was discharged from the ICU of Royal Brisbane Hospital he had a goal of walking less than 20 metres to a window at the end of the ward hallway.

“He had to learn how to walk again – and that was the start,’’ Fifita’s wife Nikki said.

“There was definitely a thought that he would never make it back to the game, so you could say I’m equally as shocked.

“I’m more excited than nervous.

“I’m sure there will be a part of me, closer to kick-off, where I will feel either relief that he’s got there, or anxious in the fact the last time he was out on a football field, look what happened.’’

Where Fifita is, exactly, is on the verge of one of rugby league’s greatest comebacks.

Unable to breathe after suffering a fractured larynx in a tackle while playing for the Cronulla Sharks last August, Fifita needed to be placed in an induced coma for five days.

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Andrew Fifita is on the verge of a remarkable rugby league comeback. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

So dire was the situation for Fifita, connected to a ventilator and gasping for air, he decided to send a heartbreaking voicemail message to his wife from the back of the ambulance as he was being rushed to hospital.

“I just remember leaving a voice message for my wife just to say to the kids make sure they always get this and play it on their wedding night,” Fifita told reporters this week.

“I was just thinking about everything for my kids. It came to that point in my journey where I thought we were gone.’’

Yet quite incredibly, here he is now, about to run on to a football field again.

Fifita’s 181-day goal, that drove him to the point of physical and mental exhaustion, of representing the NRL Indigenous All Stars will be achieved against the NRL Maori All Stars tonight at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.

By the 32-year-old’s side like a constant force, in hospital and at every appointment with specialists throughout Fifita’s most tumultuous chapter of his turbulent career, has been Nikki.

It was Nikki, pregnant with the couple’s fourth child at the time when Fifita was in a coma, who asked the doctors to explain every frightening detail about her husband’s state so that it would be her, not them, breaking the news to the star footballer when he woke.

“When he was first in the coma they said we’re not going to promise you anything until he’s awake,’’ Nikki said.

Andrew Fifita pictured with his children Lyla and Ljay after a successful laryngeal surgery.

Nikki Fifita has been by Andrew Fifita’s side all the way.

“I had warned the doctors, please don’t tell him anything until I’ve had time to discuss it with him.’

“I was there for all his appointments with the specialists and as every day passed, it became clear that medically, there was no doubt he could play again,’’ Nikki said.

“I heard them say he was 100 per cent capable – and so from there, even though some of his family and friends thought that maybe he shouldn’t risk it, he began his road back.

“We knew there would be a million hurdles to get through in the off-season to get him back to being physically fit enough,’’ Nikki said.

“If someone had said, he’s got 12 months to two years to make it back, that would have been more manageable, but his timeline was extremely short to get back to a point where he could be physically fit enough.

“He has definitely put in the training. At Sharks, but also at home, just putting in all those extras to make sure he was physically and mentally ready.

“Physiologically he had to do a lot of extra training to prove to himself mentally and trust himself that he could play again.

Andrew Fifita has been working hard to return. Picture: Getty Images

“We did a lot of talking. We sat up a million times just chatting about what he feels nervous about, it was almost like he needed to learn how to trust yourself again.

“Since the coma this was his goal, ‘I want to get to All Stars’, he would say.

“That was his focus, he’s very goal oriented.

“He had the weight he wanted to get too and this time and this fitness test, which was based on getting to this game (All Stars).

“The kids Ljay (9), Lyla (6), (Laynz (4) and Nulla (9-weeks) for him are major motivators, by training and getting them involved it was giving him a push.

“Having them with him was huge. We always talk not only about this chapter, but his whole career, for the kids, when they are older they will able to see how resilient their Dad is.

“He has such a new outlook on being able to play – not taking it for granted, being able to put football boots on and play a game again. Because I definitely think there were parts that he doubts thinking ‘can I get back there again?’.”

HOW FIFITA CONQUERED HIS FEARS

Andrew Fifita has declared he’s ready to complete one of rugby league’s great comebacks by playing football just six months after being placed in a five-day coma.

After fearing his career could be over last August, the veteran Sharks forward is just days away from stepping onto the field again after being chosen for the NRL Indigenous All Stars clash with the NRL Maori All Stars on Saturday night in Sydney.

“It’s been an emotional and testing time, but to date I’ve ticked every box except playing an actual game,’’ Fifita said.

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“I’m ready. Mentally I’m ready. I thank Loz (coach Laurie Daley) for picking me.

“I’ve worked hard to get to this point, particularly over the last few weeks. We did a pretty big scrimmage (simulated game) last week with the Sharks and I got through that, which has given me a lot of confidence.

“Throughout all this I have never lost my love for the game and being part of a team environment. I’ve had a heap of support, particularly from my wife (Nikki) and family.

“The fact that I get to play again with the Indigenous boys, makes it even sweeter and so special. This is a jersey that holds a very special place in my heart.

Paramedics attend to Andrew Fifita (C) after suffering a throat injury against the Knights. Picture: AAP/Darren England

“Loz (coach Laurie Daley) will want to make sure I get through the week (medically) fine, but I’m confident I will and while sure there will be some nerves, this is what I do – this is what I love.’’

Fifita added that rookie Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon was pivotal in supporting his decision to make his comeback on Saturday night.

“I’ve had several conversations with ‘Fitz’ and he’s been terrific – he knows how much I want to play in this game and how it could set-up my season,’’ Fifita said.

HEARTBREAKING: Listen to Andrew Fifita’s first interview after coma

Fifita’s 229-game career came to a shuddering and frightening halt in round 22 last year.

The former Test and NSW State of Origin prop needed to be rushed to a Brisbane hospital after a hit to his throat while playing against Newcastle left him struggling to breathe.

He was placed in an induced coma, before doctors performed an operation to repair a fractured larynx.

In a telling interview with The Daily Telegraph from his hospital bed, Fifita described the moment his doctor brought him out of the coma.

Fifita after recovering from surgery.

Fifita (right) after leaving intensive care.

“I heard the doc say ‘Andrew it’s time to wake up’,” Fifita said.

“By then I’m f***ing screaming … he squeezed my hand … then I woke up. I thought it was an hour (had passed by), I didn’t know it was five days.

“I said ‘where’s my footy shorts’ … and I go ‘where’s my missus? It’s been an hour’, like she’s five minutes up the road.

“He goes ‘you know it’s Friday?’ and I said ‘what? Bulls**t, it’s been an hour’, and he goes ‘no you’ve been here for five days in hospital’.”

The Sharks 2016 premiership hero is one of seven Cronulla players chosen to play in the All Stars clash to be held in Sydney for the first time.

Originally published as Andrew Fifita’s wife Nikki opens up on Sharks star’s incredible return to rugby league