Gold Coast Titans centre Treymain Spry reveals the 'one off' piece of luck that has him on course for an NRL return
Treymain Spry cannot remember anything from the night his career was cast into limbo. The odd flash at most. But after surviving a brutal blow his doctors told him was a “one off”, the Titans centre’s new lease on life has him within striking distance of an NRL comeback.
Local League
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local League. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Treymain Spry cannot remember anything from the night his career was cast into limbo when he suffered a horror one-punch attack on a night out. The odd flash at most.
But after surviving a brutal blow that put him in hospital with a brain bleed and skull fracture, the Titans centre’s has made a remarkable recovery to be within striking distance of an NRL comeback.
Spry fell victim to a horror coward punch attack in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley last March, inflicted by the partner of his ex-girlfriend Saiasi Verevodi.
Verevodi was jailed with immediate parole after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while intoxicated, with Spry suffering a brain bleed and fractured skull.
He woke in hospital with nothing but vivid recollections of the evening, confined to a bed for 10-days as he underwent memory tests to determine the extent of his damage.
“They were saying I was just lucky, pretty fortunate and lucky I didn’t have any other extended injuries from my brain. They said it was lucky, one off type stuff,” Spry said.
“I don’t really remember the night, I was just out with a few mates and then woke up in hospital. I sort of remember bits and pieces from throughout that night, but I pretty much just work up in hospital — that’s all I can remember.
“I spent I think 10 days in hospital and I was pretty much just lying in bed every day all day.
“My family were coming in every day so it was pretty chill, I wasn’t too worried about everything. Just with the fracture and bleeding and stuff the doctors said it’ll be all sweet, just needed to recover for a few days in hospital.
“I was not liking being in there, just in bed all day or just walking around the hospital – the only walking I did was to the food court and back to bed.
“I just had to do some scans a couple of weeks after I left and they were all positive, all sweet. I don’t need any more check-ups or anything.”
But the Gold Coast centre, who inked a two-year deal with the club in January, is on the cusp of completing a remarkable comeback, and he will be out to use the Titans bye week to prove he is worthy of a call up.
Spry will line up in the backline for Tweed in their Saturday Queensland Cup clash against Burleigh, determined to put pressure on incumbent NRL centres Aaron Schoupp and Brian Kelly.
Thus far the 23-year-old, who made the last of his five first-grade appearances in 2020, has made a solid start to the campaign; scoring three tries and making four linebreaks and 10 tackle busts in two appearances for the Seagulls.
While Spry said his family initially feared he would never take the field again, he was steadfast that he would ultimately return.
Now he said he was determined to transform himself from flashy finisher to a grinding workhorse from the backfield to push his case for a place in Justin Holbrook’s side.
“They always said this or this might happen, but I always knew just how I was feeling I would be sweet,” Spry said.
“I wasn’t really in doubt whether I could play footy, and when I re-signed the family was happy. I was very relieved I could just focus on footy now and the family are proud of me from what I went through to get back to the top.
“I’ll just do my part at training throughout the week, and when I get back to Tweed just have good games and make sure I get all those little things right.
“There’s still a lot of work to work on … my carries in helping the team out and stuff like that I need to improve, not just the flashy stuff. I think once I get all that hard work and tough carries in Cup I should be right when I get my chance in the NRL.
“Whenever my chance comes I’ll take it and hopefully I get that chance and hold onto it.”
Tweed’s battle with the Bears also looms as a potential shootout for the Titans number six jumper should veteran Kieran Foran be ruled out for the Dragons clash with a calf injury.
Seagulls duo Toby Sexton and Tom Weaver pulled the strings side-by-side in the club’s 32-26 win over reigning champions, Norths Devils — with Sexton crossing to score and Weaver credited with four try assists.
The pair will most likely be the frontrunners to cover Foran, with Jayden Campbell set to assume fullback AJ Brimson’s role.
“They’ve played very well together, they control the game good and I’ve enjoyed playing outside ‘Sexy’. We get each other, we’ve had a couple of years there together at Tweed so we gel pretty well together,” Spry said.
“Mainly this pre-season he (Weaver) has really come out of his shell and really put an impact into the pre-season and how he trains.
“He’s really standing up, he stood up throughout the pre-season — he had Davey (Fifita) running at him all pre-season and he stood his ground. It’s been pretty impressive.”
Tweed and Burleigh will kick off from 3.15 at Piggabeen.
‘IT WAS PRETTY SCARY: COWARD PUNCH VICTIM'S NRL COMEBACK (January 19)
Treymain Spry has completed a remarkable comeback from a near fatal attack, securing a two-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.
There were times Spry’s family were adamant he may never return to the field, after the youngster suffered severe injuries following a horror attack in Brisbane.
But the speedster had other ideas.
MORE GOLD COAST SPORT
Surfers pinpoint where Brisbane Olympics’ surfing should be held
Date Set: Gold Coast Sports Star the Years Awards
Super Netball preseason Cup location revealed
The talented outside back will remain a part of the club’s Top 30 squad for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and will now battle for a round one centre spot with Brian Kelly, Phillip Sami and recruit Aaron Schoupp.
However it was only in March last year when the 23-year-old’s career could have come to a premature end.
The incident was reportedly caused when the partner of his ex-girlfriend, Saiasi Verevodi Qiokata, allegedly ran across the street and king-hit Spry.
He was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service and to pay $1100 in compensation to Spry.
Spry sustained a fractured skull and eye socket, as well as bleeding on his brain as he fought for his life, let alone his rugby league career.
But now, Spry’s redemption arc is complete.
Speaking upon securing a new NRL deal on the Glitter Strip, Spry admitted his family were unconvinced he would ever take to the field again.
He, however, was steadfast. He knew he would one day launch his comeback.
“My family were telling me that but I always knew and had in my head I would be playing again. I was lucky enough it wasn’t too serious and I would be back playing,” Spry said.
“It was pretty scary at the start of it. I spent a bit of time in the hospital, had about two months off footy and training here.
“I got the all clear to come back to training, just slowing me in and getting me ready for contact. I was lucky enough to get about five or six games in for (Queensland) Cup, and that’s what I’m looking forward to next year: playing more games, and hopefully no injuries.
“For sure I thought I’d bounce back pretty good.”
Spry made his first appearance since the ordeal in thrilling fashion; a 26-26 draw for the Tweed Seagulls against cross-town rivals Burleigh on August 7.
Each time he laced the boots he grew an extra leg, finishing with six games and averaging 86 runnings metres per outing.
He scored three tries — including a double against the Townsville Blackhawks — and made five linebreaks to announce his intentions of an NRL comeback.
Now Spry has declared where he sees his future, calling for the right centre spot in Justin Holbrook’s side to be his own as he plots to add to his five first-grade games for the Gold Coast back in 2020.
“My main spot is centre, hopefully right centre, but I don’t mind playing anywhere,” Spry said.
“I’ll try go for that right centre spot and that’s probably my focus this pre-season; getting fit and fighting for that role.”
Titans coach Holbrook said fans had been given a glimpse in the past of what Spry had to offer, but the best of him was still to come.
“Treymain is a natural footballer and is the type of player that can make things happen with the ball in hand,” he said.
“Treymain’s journey has been interrupted, but after some adversity he is very keen to make sure he grabs the opportunity to play footy at the highest level.
“Treymain will continue to work hard on his game and I am keen to see what he can achieve.”
You pick: Vote now for ultimate Qld Schoolboys team of the year
Vote now: Discover the top schoolboys rugby league players in Queensland and pick your ultimate team of the year from the NRL’s elite Year 10 and senior competitions. Cast your vote here.
‘Rather go surfing’: How Elgey lost, rekindled, rugby league love
Kane Elgey burst onto the NRL scene but by 25 he was lost to the game. Five years later, he has cleaned up in his rare return. He opens up on loving life as a termite inspector and why he doesn’t regret a thing.