Joey Leilua feared death after Covid hospitalisation, but still wants to fight Chris Heighington

After eight nights in hospital with an oxygen tank helping him breathe, Joseph Leilua has remarkably returned to the gym for a boxing match on December 22.

WEEKEND TELEGRAPHS SPECIAL. DECEMBER 3, 2021.ÊPLEASE CONTACT WEEKEND PIC EDITOR JEFF DARMANIN BEFORE PUBLISHING. Pictured in Prestons today is Former NRL player Joey Leilua at his first boxing training session after having Covid. Picture: Tim Hunter.

There was a moment when Joseph Leilua thought this could be his last breath.

Ravaged by Covid, the 29-year-old NRL star lay in Campbelltown Hospital for eight nights as his mind wandered into worst-case territory.

“It wasn’t pleasant, I was in there for four days, I came back out, and the next night I went back in because I couldn’t breathe,” Leilua said.

“I got an oxygen tank, they left me in there for another four days.

“It was scary, I was thinking of my wife and kids and if I would see the next day.”

His wife Tiana and their three young children Leonidas, Ladanian and Lyra-Rae all tested positive for Covid but thankfully their symptoms were minor.

Joey Leilua at his first boxing training session after having Covid. Picture: Tim Hunter.

When organisers of Leilua’s professional boxing debut against former Wests Tigers stalwart Chris Heighington learned of his hospitalisation they quickly scrambled to find a replacement for the December 22 bout.

Yet remarkably, Leilua not only recovered but was shadow boxing beside his hospital bed on his final day of care and has declared he will step into the ring against Heighington at The Star in 18 days.

“I prayed and made sure I just kept strong, I knew once I got out of it I’d come out the other side and I wanted to fight,” Leilua said.

“That’s why I’m pushing so hard to get better.

Joey Leilua shadow boxing in his hospital room as he waits to be released following treatment for Covid. Picture supplied

“It’s not about just fighting for me, I’m wanting to prove to myself that I’m worthy of being out there.

“I feel happy that I’m alive.

“I got symptoms out of nowhere. I started vomiting in the car on the way to training, I thought: ‘This is weird’, and that’s when I decided to get a Covid test. The next day I got tested and it came back positive.

“The next five days were pretty rough. I couldn’t move, my chest was sore, I sat in bed and got hot and cold real quick.

“I couldn’t sleep, didn’t eat for three days. I lost about five kilograms, I’m putting it back on now.

“I was so bored in there, by my eighth day in hospital I thought if I don’t get out of bed and do something I’m going to go crazy, so I did some shadow-boxing.

“I felt like I was in a cage, I wanted to get out and I couldn’t wait.

“As soon as I got out I went straight on the treadmill, just to walk and feel it.”

Leilua finished his mandatory home quarantine on Thursday night and was back in the gym on Friday morning.

The often-maligned enforcer, whose controversial tenure at the Tigers came to an abrupt end this season when they refused to give him a new deal, will head to England following his fight to play for second-division Featherstone Rovers.

But Leilua, who had received his first vaccine jab before he got the virus, is determined to leave Australia with a transformed reputation following his health scare.

“People don’t realise it can really change your life,” he said.

“For me, for that first five days I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink. I was telling myself Covid is actually out there and it made me appreciate everything I have.

“I made sure that once I got out, I’m going to make the most of everything I get.

“I just want to show people that you can get knocked down, with all the media hounding on me, all these things they’ve been saying about me, and you can come out the other side.

“For all those kids out there, even if things get tough, you can still get through it and prevail.

“I’m going out there to show them that I’m willing to push through, even with this Covid, I’m going to show that fighting spirit.”

Joseph Leilua will make his professional boxing debut against Chris Heighington on December 22. Picture: Brett Costello

The 109kg heavyweight is a training partner of Manly’s Josh Aloiai, who was scheduled to fight Paul Gallen but withdrew a fortnight ago after he contracted Covid, forcing promoters No Limit Boxing to reschedule the December 8 event in Newcastle to December 22 in Sydney, where Gallen will headline against late replacement Darcy Lussick.

“I didn’t hear the news until I was inside hospital that they pulled the plug with Josh, it was quite sad because he trained so hard for it,” Leilua said.

“It was devastating. I’ve seen abilities in Josh that he can fight, it’s just sad that he can’t fight anymore.

“I’m still lucky enough to fight, I can’t wait to get out there and put on a show.”

Leilua has no idea how his body will react to training post-Covid and what condition his lungs will be on fight night.

“I am not sure, I’m going day by day, I’m taking my medicine and vitamins and making sure I’m healthy,” he said.

“I’m not going to make any excuses about Covid, it’s a minor setback and I’ve got to go forward.

“I’m not worried about it, I want to enjoy my time in the ring.”

Originally published as Joey Leilua feared death after Covid hospitalisation, but still wants to fight Chris Heighington