Fearless Ipswich leader reflects on facial injury as weighs up playing on

“I never felt that sensation before. I continued playing and then they called me off and went to hospital that night.’’ Ipswich captain relives facial injury preparing for return to footy.

Ipswich Jets captain Nat Neale wants to keep helping the younger players in the remaining games this season before deciding his future.

FRESH from a welcome team training session, Ipswich Jets captain Nate Neale will take some time away from the game before deciding his playing future.

Preparing for the Jets return home game against the Bears next Saturday, Neale was focused on completing the Intrust Super Cup season before making any rash announcements.

“I’m sitting on the fence at the moment,’’ the fearless Jets leader said.

“Some days, I’m like going around again and then other days when I’m a bit tired and sore, ‘I’m done’.’’

The team workhorse said he would wait until after Christmas to confirm his future plans.

Neale, who turns 33 next month, was sidelined for eight weeks after suffering a facial fracture against the team the Jets are playing at the North Ipswich Reserve next Saturday afternoon.

“I copped a knee to the face,’’ Neale said, reflecting on what happened in the 34-12 loss to Burleigh at the Gold Coast on May 15.

“I fractured my eye socket.

“I’ve never had that kind of injury before.’’

At first, Neale tried to play on.

“I didn’t think it was that bad until I went to blow my nose and it felt like my eye was going to pop out of its socket,’’ he said.

“I never felt that sensation before.

“I continued playing and then they called me off and went to hospital that night.’’

He even suffered some blurred peripheral vision before completing his recovery.

“It’s all healed up now. It’s feeling good,’’ the powerful forward said.

Ipswich Jets captain Nat Neale reflects on moving forward after a tough season. Picture: David Lems

Neale is ready to return from the sporting lockdown to lead the Jets in their final three games of the season.

He wants to continue working with the Jets young players who have endured a testing season with just two wins and a draw.

“You’ve got to go through tough times to come out the other side and get to the better times,’’ he said.

“You can’t always have it easy, your own way.’’

The Jets are coming off a 46-0 loss to the Falcons in their previous match on July 25.

“You are only as good as your last game sort of thing,’’ the former Souths NRL player said, keen to finish the season on a high.

Fearless leader Nat Neale is considering his playing future.

Neale said the players had been doing their own weights programs and workouts before reuniting for a Sunday morning training session after the community sports lockdown ended on Friday.

“Our trainer Dorey (Jonathan Dore) gave us a program that we could do to keep in shape,’’ Neale said.

The Jets captain said the players kept in touch through direct calls to help them maintain their focus.

The team will train on Tuesday and Thursday as usual this week to get back into game mode.

Neale said the latest break was less than ideal.

“It was a bit of a hindrance,’’ he said. “It just stops that momentum and cohesion I guess with all the boys.

“You’ve just got to get over it and continue on with the last three games I guess.’’

Next Saturday’s match against the Bears at the North Ipswich Reserve kicks off at 5pm.

As for his future, the highly regarded captain expected coach Keiron Lander to try and convince him to stay.

“I will see how I feel after this season and after the break,’’ Neale said.

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