Sidelined Raider star’s relief: ‘It was so good to hear those words’

Joey Leilua has spoken about the moment his spinal surgeon declared he was free to return to rugby league after fears only a few months ago that he may never walk again.

Joseph Leilua is set to return for the Raiders. Picture: Kym Smith

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Three months ago, Joey Leilua woke up in Westmead Private Hospital after delicate and life-changing spinal surgery.

On Tuesday, the Canberra Raiders strike centre will be named to appear in his 200th first-grade game.

In a big boost to the premiership aspirations of the second-placed Raiders, coach Ricky Stuart is poised to select Leilua in his 21-man squad for one of the games of the year against the Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium next Sunday.

In his only interview since returning to training, Leilua has spoken about the moment spinal surgeon Dr Brian Hsu declared he was free to return after fears only a few months ago that he may never walk again.

“The surgeon looked me over (10 days ago) and said, ‘You’re ready to go, if you want to’,” Leilua said.

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Joey Leilua underwent delicate and life-changing spinal surgery.

“It was so good to hear those words. This is a long time coming, it feels like it’s been two years.

“It’s been a hard road, but it’s been a good one. Mentally I feel fresh, I feel excited.

“I honestly can’t wait to get out there and play. Because that’s how confident I feel.’’

If Leilua plays against the Roosters, it will be just 14 weeks after the damaging ball runner was forced to have urgent spinal surgery.

Leilua suffered the injury while taking a hit-up during the first half of Canberra’s round-seven clash with Manly on April 28.

Incredibly, the 27-year-old played out the 80 minutes.

It wasn’t until the following morning, when waking with a stiff neck, that Leilua decided to visit the Raiders club doctor.

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Joey Leilua is set to return in a huge boost for the Raiders. Picture Kym Smith

MRI scans revealed Leilua had suffered a herniated and bulging disc that was placing dangerous pressure on his spinal cord.

It’s only pure fortune that not enough weight was applied to Leilua’s neck during the match to leave him paralysed. After surgery, Leilua was under strict orders to walk only 15 minutes a day.

Over a steady process, he increased his walking limit before beginning to run seven weeks ago and also returning to the gym.

“It was three weeks of doing nothing after surgery and then it was slowly getting into walking, then running, and I slowly picked up the intensity,’’ Leilua said.

Joey Leilua is raring to go for the Raiders. Picture: Getty Images

“At no point did I feel any pressure on the neck and it was good to continually step up the training.

“I’ve pretty much done all the running required (to play NRL) while increasing the workload in the weights room. I’ve slowly added heavier weights in order to rehab the neck and strengthen my upper body and neck area.

“Now it’s all fine, I feel confident. I’m back doing big weights now. I’ve hit my PBs in the gym. Be it squats or on the bench, I’ve hit nearly all my benchmarks and PBs.

“I’m also at my playing weight (107kg).’’

Nerve response as a result of the surgery has also slowly improved.

“I thought it (numbness) would never go away,’’ Leilua said.

“It took six weeks before it went away after surgery. I was in a lot of pain for six weeks. I was so excited I could go throw a ball without feeling pain.’’

Joey Leilua is set to be named in Canberra’s squad to face Sydney Roosters. Picture: AAP

The Raiders have taken a professional approach to Leilua’s return. Since gaining his medical all-clear last week, Leilua has increased his game-conditioning and has committed himself to rigorous contact sessions.

A final decision on whether Leilua is given the green light to achieve his 200-game milestone against his former club will be made closer to the match. But with both medical clearance and his training standards equal to before the injury, there’s little more the two-time Dally M centre of the year can do to prove he’s ready to return.

“It’s been hard for me to watch any footy at all, but with our team going so well, it’s made it a lot easier,’’ Leilua said.

“I’m so happy for them. They’ve picked up a lot of the slack for a lot of the players that have been out.

“The surgeon said my neck is now stronger than what it ever was, so I’m confident.

“When I step on the field I think it will kick in. I know how lucky I am and I just want to get back to doing what I love.’’