Former Newcastle halfback dares to dream of an NRL return after defying serious doubts over life

FORMER Newcastle halfback Ryan Stig has overcome a disease that could have killed him and an injury doctors said would end his professional days, now he is determined to revive his NRL career.

Former Knight Ryan Stig overcame lymes disease to get his career back on track.

Former Newcastle halfback Ryan Stig has overcome a disease that could have killed him and an injury doctors said would end his professional days, now he is determined to revive his NRL career.

In 2013, Stig was diagnosed with lymes disease. The condition was so serve he endured a five-week period where he could only drink water.

He also had to travel to Mexico, Switzerland and Germany in a bid to discover a treatment.

This struggle came just a year after doctors told Stig a blood clot behind his eye would end his promising career.

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Former Knight Ryan Stig overcame lymes disease to get his career back on track.

Thankfully, these dark days are now behind the Macksville-born playmaker. He returned through the Knights’ NSW Cup ranks earlier this season and played two games, while he’ll run around in the local competition with Wests Newcastle this year.

Stig, though, still has his sights set on the NRL.

He revealed Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett offered him a lifeline to resume his top-flight career at the Broncos this season, but he knocked it back due to family commitments in Newcastle.

“But I could never rule out a return to the NRL because I still have the desire,” Stig told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I was talking to Brisbane a bit. I still had an association with Wayne, because he was my coach at Newcastle when everything went pear shaped for me.

Stig’s life was threatened as a result of the disease.

“Wayne said he would give me a chance, but I would have to move the family up there and I was still training with Newcastle.

“I asked the Knights for a commitment to put me back in the full-time squad, but they weren’t able to do it at this point in time.

“That’s when I decided to go back with Wests in the local comp.

“But maybe I’ll look at the NRL again next year. I’ll just take things in baby steps, play a bit of footy this year and see what comes of it.”

Either way, Stig is just happy to be back playing given the seriousness of his previous injury and illness.

Stig has aspirations of reviving his NRL career with Newcastle.

It’s why he says he’ll take nothing for granted when he lines up for Wests in the local Newcastle competition this season.

“When I look at the big picture and put everything into context it makes me really happy,” he beamed.

“But there are different emotions that I go though at times.

“Whilst I’m happy to be playing again, sometimes I get frustrated as to where I could have been.

“But I try to put things into context, which makes me proud of where I’m at now.

“The first few games were oddly familiar, but at the same time I hadn’t played for so long and it was a bit surreal.

“But I’m happy to be back playing.”

Originally published as Former Newcastle halfback dares to dream of an NRL return after defying serious doubts over life