Gold Coast Titans fullback Keano Kini was millimetres from a catastrophic spinal injury that could have left him paralysed

Titans fullback Keano Kini was the club’s best player in 2024, now he is facing a long road back to the NRL following a spinal injury which nearly left him paralysed.

Titans fullback Keano Kini was millimetres away from being paralysed by a near catastrophic spinal injury that has grounded the Kiwis sensation.

Kini will undergo delicate neck surgery on Tuesday to remove a herniated disc between his C4-C5 vertebrae that was impinging his spinal cord.

Gold Coast’s reigning Paul Broughton Medallist has been told to limit travelling in a car before the operation and be ultra-careful moving – such is the precarious nature of the injury.

He is facing at least four months on the sidelines but is confident the injury is not career-threatening.

Kini, 20, will become a father in the coming months and was told another knock to his neck could have been devastating.

Titans fullback Keano Kini has suffered a serious spinal injury. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m pretty lucky, it could have been a lot worse,” he said.

“The doc said if I copped another bad hit I could have been paralysed, so I feel blessed to have found this out now before something really serious happened.

“When he said that to me, I was pretty scared.”

Kini played 80 minutes in Gold Coast’s round 3 win against Newcastle, charging for 217m in performance that earned four Dally M points.

But he reported concerning symptoms post-game which prompted Titans medical staff to send him for scans.

Hours later he was being booked to consult a spinal surgeon after the scans revealed Kini’s 14mm spinal cord had been compressed 10mm, leaving only 4mm before a potentially life-changing injury.

Kini trained on Monday March 24 before reporting concerning symptoms. Picture: Getty Images

“I have a herniation of my disc in between my vertebrae, it was pushing into my spinal cord, so they are going to take that out and fuse the bones together,” Kini said.

“I am looking at a minimum three-month recovery.

“I can start training in between that, but it will be three to four months before I get back on the field and maybe four to six weeks after that until I can be back in contention to be selected again.

“I think it happened playing for the Kiwis against Tonga last year. In the warm up, I got some whiplash after getting a hit and the right side of my body went numb.

“In the first half of that game, I played the ball and I couldn’t feel my arm. Then in the Knights game I got a push in the back and the same feeling happened again.

“I thought I would get an MRI scan and then it showed the damage in my disc.”

Kini suffered the injury playing for the Kiwis last year. Picture: NRL Photos

Kini is listed at a generous 177cm and 83kg but plays the game with no fear. He has an incredible engine and outplayed Newcastle’s Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga last week.

Kini’s size has raised questions about his longevity in the increasingly brutal NRL, but the fleet-footed dynamo is confident he can get back to his best and have a successful career.

“At first, you tend to think the worst but I’m trying to be positive,” he said.

“In the back of my mind, I’ve got some reassurance. A few players have reached out to me.

“Charnze (Nicoll-Klokstad, Warriors) had the same issue and the same neck surgery and he has come back fine, so that’s been one positive to get that support.

“They originally said I’ll be back around the Origin period but I really doubt that. Anything can happen with your neck, so I’m not going to rush anything.

Keano Kini and partner Faith Tavita are expecting their first child this year. Picture: Portia Large.

“I’m focused on my health first rather than coming back to footy this year. Obviously, I’d love to be back this year, but if not, I will take my time to get back to my full potential.

“It’s disappointing because I was building well the last two games and really looking forward to a huge season with the boys.

“That’s life. Sometimes these injuries happen. Everything happens for a reason so I’m going to reset, train as hard as I can and come back even better.”

Titans coach Des Hasler said Kini was in good spirits despite the setback.

“He was relieved to find out he will be okay,” he said.

“He is such a great kid and is much admired by his teammates,

“He will come back from this.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Titans fullback Keano Kini was millimetres from a catastrophic spinal injury that could have left him paralysed