State of Origin 2018: NSW Blues brought to tears by car crash survivor Jamie Manning
STATE of Origin is held up as the toughest challenge you can face. But on Monday night, Brad Fittler’s series-winning Blues were brought to tears by a true hero who has endured more than they can understand.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
“WHEN I came to in the crash, I remember saying: ‘If I don’t stick my hand in the fire and release this seatbelt, I’m going to die’.”
Hardened State of Origin stars held back tears on Monday night. Suddenly, their game didn’t seem so tough.
NSW players sat transfixed by an emotional motivational talk on Monday night by burns victim Jamie Manning.
UPDATED: Round 17 NRL teams
KENT: Maroons have never been more dangerous
SMOKE: Merrin shoots down Griffin rumours
It was a speech which left boisterous footballers eerily silent. They were visibly shaken.
And NSW will use Manning’s gut-wrenching tale of survival as motivation in their historic bid for a clean sweep against Queensland next Wednesday night.
‘Dodge’ Manning lost a leg and a hand during a horrific road accident near Dubbo in March, 2014. He suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body, broke his back and fractured skull. His face was essentially burnt off.
But it could have been worse.
He was ready to die.
“You lose all your problems for a while,” said NSW coach Brad Fittler. “You can’t even send your mind there.”
Just 3km from the home he shares with wife Karen and children Jedd, Braydon and Lori, Manning’s car crashed into a tree and he was pulled from the burning wreck by Charles Allan Mitchell, Brock Lawrence and Katie Abbott, who later received Australian Bravery Awards.
“I was in a coma for seven weeks,” Manning said. “In that instant, my life was over as such. I found myself fighting for life. I wasn’t speeding and hit a tree head-on at 80km/hr.
“The car was alight. When I came to in the crash, I remember saying: ‘If I don’t stick my hand in the fire and release this seatbelt, I’m going to die.’
“I had bleeding to the brain, fractured skull, fractured neck, broke my back in two places, broke my hip and internal injuries.”
But Manning considers himself lucky.
“The doc told my wife for three or four nights straight that ‘Jamie probably won’t be here in the morning’,” Manning said.
“For her to hear that, she had to draw on her strength too. She said ‘no way he’s going to die’.”
Just 90 seconds after he was dragged clear, Manning’s car exploded into flames. He is now an ambassador for road safety, drawing attention to the risks of driving on country roads.
It’s how he was able to speak to the Blues after the NSWRL and Transport for NSW partnered to deliver messages about road safety through the Knock-on Effect campaign.
“I grew up like you guys,” Manning told the Blues players. “I had a passion for rugby league.”
Fittler said Manning’s words resonated deeply with his squad.
“Everyone walked out thinking others have it worse,” Fittler said. “It is a remarkable story. He takes you to a place where you are thinking a lot; his courage to get out of the car. I hope the boys were inspired.”
Blues five-eighth James Maloney added: “It was pretty hectic to hear.”
“All the doctors said he couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that and he’s done it,” Maloney said. “Impressive.”
Jodie Cross, the NSWRL head of commercial, said of the Knock-on Effect campaign: “It is great to be able to use the strength of our Blues brand to deliver such an important community message.”
Click here to find out more about the Blues’ support of the Knock-on Effect campaign.
LIVE stream every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free two-week Foxtel Now trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >