Jamie Lee Lewis has recovered from two knee constructions to live out her rugby league dream

Jamie Lee Lewis has foughtback from two knee constructions to live out her rugby league dream playing for the Souths Logan Magpies

Jamie Lee Lewis may have run only 10m to score in a recent match with the Souths Logan women’s rugby league team, but she felt a burst of pride like never before in her sporting life.

That moment, that run, confirmed in her mind she had overcome two knee reconstructions and could now march forward in her league career with increasing confidence.

“I just went through and a couple of players tried to tackle me,’’ Lewis said.

For three years she faced the daunting prospect of not having the strength to rise from her second knee reconstruction and play competitive sport again.

“The injury had beaten me mentally ,’’ she said.

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But somewhere from within, and with encouraging from her partner, Lewis found strength to enter the sporting arena again.

“I thought ‘I love sport, I am a person that loves being out there’, so I thought ‘get up again’.’’

Jamie-Lee Lewis (right) tackles Amy Turner. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

She told herself “keep going, keep trying’’ as she worked with her physio to gain strength in her knee, while also gaining the mental strength to enter the collision sport of rugby league.

Lewis, 29, did not want to be a person to get to age 40 with regrets of never trying for a sporting come back.

“I am not a person who gives up easily,’’ she said in what could only be described as a big understatement. Lewis was born deaf but later was fitted with a cochlear implant, which has enabled her to hear.

Jamie-Lee Lewis. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Initially it was the successful of that operation which prevented Lewis from playing league as a child.

“I did want to play it when I was young, but I got told by my surgeon and my parents I was not able to play it because of my implant.

“I wished I had done it earlier, but I was in love with my water polo.

“I am so proud of my achievements in water polo.

“But now I am here. I miss water polo, but I have found my happy place.’’

And she has never been happier than scoring that 10m try while her parents, Wally and Jackie, watched.

“It is all about my parents being there,’’ she said.

“When I scored I got a bit emotional because my parents were there.

“They have done so much for me and I thought I needed to repay them being there.’’

Jamie Lee, who was also an elite water polo, said she was loving life at the Magpies which she said was her happy place.

“I fell in love with this club, the culture and the great family environment and Rob (Brough) is a great coach,’’ she said.

Rugby league legend Wally Lewis at the women's rugby game between Souths Logan and Wests to watch his daughter Jamie-Lee Lewis. He shares a joke with coach Rob Brough as his daughter passes. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

She said Brough had contributed to her regaining confidence and her team mates had been “awesome’’.

“Rob kept telling me all through the pre-season to keep pushing, you are so strong.’’

Lewis said the Souths club had a special feel to it and past players from the Magpies had also played a key role in the start of the women’s rugby league movement.

“To think these girls have started from nothing (20 years ago), that is why we are doing it for the ladies before us.’’