Canterbury Bulldogs prodigy Karl Oloapu to undergo NRL career-saving back surgery

Bulldogs prodigy Karl Oloapu has finally got the answers to questions about a back issue that threatens to end the teen star’s NRL career while still in its infancy. FIND OUT THE LATEST.

Canterbury Bulldogs star Karl Oloapu.

On Thursday afternoon, Canterbury Bulldogs prodigy Karl Oloapu sat inside his home in front of a laptop with tears streaming down his face.

His loving and loyal brother Joe also choked back tears.

Sitting next to Oloapu and Joe was Dr Mark Winder, one of Australia‘s leading neurosurgeons, from St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Watching the emotion of the 18-year-old on the other side of the Zoom Call was Matt Adamson, Oloapu’s agent.

“They were tears of joy, not of heartache,’’ Adamson said.

Karl Oloapu requires surgery for a bulging disc. Picture: Steve Montgomery

Last week, Oloapu could hardly sleep with the fear that his burgeoning NRL career could be over due to the serious issue of a bulging disc in his back, which is placing dangerous pressure on his spine.

Bulldogs GM of football Phil Gould said it could’ve been ”catastrophic” had they not discovered it. Yet on Thursday, the rising star was given the news that he will be able to play contact sport again, prompting the uncontrollable tears.

“We had a Zoom call and Mark went through it all,” Adamson said.

“Karl Oloapu has had wonderful news from one of Australia’s leading neuro specialists.

“He will need surgery, but once healed, he will be able to play rugby league again.

“Karl is ecstatic.’’

SURGERY

Oloapu, who the Dogs paid the Broncos a $500,000 transfer fee to sign to a four-year deal earlier this year, met with multiple doctors and specialists before meeting with Winder last Thursday.

It was former Australian, NSW State of Origin and Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello that organised Winder to assess an MRI of Oloapu’s spinal injury.

Anthony Minichiello helped Oloapu.

Minichiello’s story of overcoming serious back injuries during his extraordinary NRL career has been well-publicised.

It includes a precarious disc injury in 2008 that was just one millimetre away from his spinal cord.

The former Golden Boot winner lauds Winder for giving him “a new back.’’

Winder has advised that the sooner Oloapu undergoes surgery, the better.

Trouble-free surgery could see Oloapu back performing light training within a matter of weeks and playing again, at the earliest, by mid-next year.

“Mark Winder at St Vincents is who I got my last operation with,” Minichiello said.

“They (Oloapu family) went and saw one of the best.

“100 per cent. I have no doubt I believe he (Oloapu) can come back.’’

MENTOR MINI

Minichiello met with Oloapu, his brother Joe and Adamson at a Surry Hills cafe last Tuesday.

Over the course of three hours, a compassionate and considerate Minichiello offered critical advice to the young Bulldogs half, comparing MRI scans of his own injuries to Oloapu’s, while impressing upon him about the importance of self-healing.

“At the time it’s all doom and gloom, but there’s so many other things that can improve your body,’’ Minichiello said.

Joe and Karl Oloapu with Anthony Minichiello.

“I was happy to share advice with him. Because most people from a conventional sense will say, it’s going to be hard from here.

“But there’s so many things you can do to heal.

“That comes down to nutrition, recovery, sleep, hydration and the type of training you do.

“I’ve been through it and I’ve seen my body heal itself. And I’ve helped others heal, so I was only too happy to catch-up with Karl.’’

MINI’S DIET ADVICE

Minichiello has given Oloapu his mobile number and a meal plan that he used to help replenish damaged tissues in his back, which helped fast-track his own healing process.

“It’s all about how he applies himself and doing things consistently,’’ Minichiello said.

“If he eats good clean nutrition, decreases some of the inflammation, the body is going to start repairing itself at accelerated rates.

“He’s still 18, which is another bonus.

“He needs to look at the quality of his produce. When you’re eating your proteins, it’s got to be grass-fed, beef and lamb, wild caught fish, pasteurised chicken and pork, an array of seasonal fruits and vegetables, bone broth and collagen powder.

“You’ve got to think outside the box too and think holistically, what can you do to improve your body.

“I definitely sensed Karl was committed to everything it takes to playing again.”