Monday Buzz: Dragons star Cody Ramsey fighting to save NRL career after shock diagnosis

As Cody Ramsey fights for his immediate NRL career, laid up in a hospital, his coach Anthony Griffin is coming up big for the young Dragons star.

Cody Ramsey is fighting to save his NRL career after a shock diagnosis. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty

St George Illawarra fullback Cody Ramsey is laid up in hospital and fighting to save his immediate footy career.

The Dragons star has spent the past two weeks in Wollongong hospital battling an illness called ulcerative colitis, which causes inflammation and ulcers on the bowel and digestive tract that may require surgery and long-term treatment.

It is a disease most often caused by an immune system malfunction that can lead to life-threatening complications.

After returning to club training two weeks ago, Ramsey had to be admitted to hospital. He was in dreadful pain after a long-distance run.

“Cody thought it was just a bug and ran his nine-and-a-half kilometres,” said his mum, Kim. “That’s where it all unravelled. His immune system was fighting something it couldn’t fix.

“The doctor originally said he might need surgery and it could end his footy career.

Cody Ramsey is fighting to save his NRL career after a shock diagnosis. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty

“I’ve never seen him so sick and in so much pain.

“Fortunately, he’s progressing now and we’re hopeful he’ll be OK to play again next season.

“He’s a tough cookie and he’ll hopefully be back in the new year”

Still, according to Kim, Ramsey faces another two weeks in hospital.

It’s a bugger of a thing to happen in what is a huge off-season for the youngster.

The 22-year-old managed to lock down the fullback job last season but has the exciting Tyrell Sloan on his tail for the No.1 jumper.

He knows he needs to be fit, strong and playing good footy.

Obviously his health and wellbeing are all that matter right now.

His specialists are using a drug called Infliximab via intravenous injection while he is in hospital.

It’s a government-funded drug that costs $12,000 per injection.

Cody Ramsey scored two tries on debut in 2020. Picture: Matt King/Getty

Cody Ramsey locked down the fullback position last season. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Each dose takes two-hours to inject.

The Dragons’ club doctor Thomas Carrigan has been monitoring his situation.

“Cody is being treated with immunotherapy for an inflammatory bowel condition,” he said. “He is responding well and with support from the medical team and coaching staff will hopefully make a swift recovery.”

There is a lovely human side to this story around his coach Anthony Griffin.

Read on and you’ll get an understanding why rumours that he had lost the dressing shed are off the money. In fact, way off.

“You know what, that man is one in a million,” Kim said of Griffin.

“He has rung me every single day. He has texted Cody every single day.

“He has gone to his ward to visit him at the hospital a couple of times.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has been in close contact with Ramsey and his family. Picture: Matt King/Getty

“He cares so much for all of his players and he’s treated Cody like a son. I can’t thank him enough. When he rings he’s never in a rush. Honestly, he’s the nicest man.”

For the Ramsey family it has been a horrible few weeks, not just with Cody’s illness.

Kim and her husband own a pub, the Freemasons Hotel, in the central-west country town of Molong, which was wiped out in floods.

Kim has had to leave town and the clean-up operation to be with Cody in Wollongong. She shares shifts with his dad Jamie at the hospital.

“I’m cooking his meals and taking them up to the hospital because he’s got special dietary requirements,’’ Kim said. “Lots of healthy food.

“We’re hoping he’ll be out in a couple of weeks as long as everything goes well. Footy’s important but as long as I’ve got a healthy boy ... family is everything.”