NRL news: How Blaize Talagi bounced back from a collapsed lung in 2023 to score on NRL debut
A collapsed lung threatened to end Blaize Talagi’s season in 2023 and put a halt in his rise to first grade. That pain is now a distant memory after the young gun scored a try on his victorious NRL debut.
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Blaize Talagi’s first grade debut got off to a testing start against Manly at Commbank Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Still, it was nothing compared to the pain he endured last year when a collapsed lung prompted a mad rush to hospital and threatened to prematurely end his season.
“After the SG ball season, we had the City-Country game and my lung collapsed in that game,” Talagi said.
“It was very painful. I tried to play on – I played 15 minutes with it being collapsed. It felt like getting stabbed in the heart every time I ran.
“The doctor told me to go home and see how I feel but it just got worse. So I went to hospital and was out for a while. I was in hospital for a week – that was a tough time.
“It wasn’t from a tackle – they reckon there was something on my lung that burst. They reckon I was born with it.”
Talagi defied the advice of doctors and returned to the field before the end of last season. He bounced back as well on Sunday at Commbank Stadium, capping his maiden first grade debut with a win and a try as he ran over the top of Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic.
His performance vindicated the faith of Eels officials – among them coach Brad Arthur – who had quietly earmarked Talagi as a future face of the club.
His ascent to first grade has followed a well-worn path, namely through Westfields Sports High, where he played in the halves alongside Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin.
The pair could yet be on opposite sides on Monday at Commback Stadium – Galvin has been one of the standouts for the Tigers through the opening three weeks of the NRL season.
“That would be nice,” Talagi said.
“We are good mates. He is going really well, I am happy for him.”
No doubt the feeling is reciprocated and while Talagi had to wait a little longer to get a taste of first grade, he let no-one down after a shaky start where he and winger Morgan Harper were targeted by the Sea Eagles.
“It wasn’t the greatest start,” Talagi admitted.
“They attacked our edge a lot. We built into the game and got the win – that is all that matters.”
Talagi had an army of supporters in the crowd, led by his parents. He gave them a wave after his try and is realistic about what lies in wait for the remainder of the season.
As good as he was against Manly, the Eels will have players coming back to play the Tigers.
“Obviously the dream would be to play consistent first grade footy,” he said. “Whatever he team needs, I will slot in.”
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Originally published as NRL news: How Blaize Talagi bounced back from a collapsed lung in 2023 to score on NRL debut
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