Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski’s emotional revelation he has lost both parents since joining the club

For Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski, battling back to the NRL from two broken arms within the space of 12 months is nothing compared to the pain of losing both parents in that same period.

Jack Gosiewski has endured a year from hell. Picture: NRL

Luckless Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski has opened up about his traumatic past year, with the tragic deaths of his father and mother compounded by two broken arms.

Gosiewski has been named to play off the bench in Friday night’s clash against the Bulldogs in Sydney and the 31-year-old is hoping to play a key role in Brisbane’s late-season charge to the top four.

For Gosiewski, a drought-breaking Broncos premiership this season would represent some joy after a year from hell in which he has battled a series of on and off-field setbacks.

The journeyman returned a fortnight ago after a 10-week lay-off with a fractured arm and during his stint on the sidelines he was rocked by the death of his dad, which followed his mum’s passing last year.

An emotional Gosiewski reflected on his year of grieving as he looks to bolster a Broncos pack depleted by the absence of Origin stars Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas against the Bulldogs.

Jack Gosiewski returned to the Broncos side after a long lay-off. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Asked how hard it was to fight back from a second broken arm, he said: “It is a little bit of a hard question.

“I had some stuff happen away from football in that period of time so the injury was the least of my worries.

“I lost my father in that period so that was a tough time.

“The injury was the least of my worries.

“I missed not playing football but I had other things going on in life that were extremely tough.

“The injury was nothing to me.”

Gosiewski has kept his mind busy, recently opening a franchise business with his partner called Chargrill Charlie’s, the first Queensland store for the popular Australian restaurant chain.

Jack Gosiewski and partner Avalon McRae opened the first ‘Chargrilled Charlie’s’ in Queensland. Picture: Richard Walker

The Murwillumbah product could have easily gone off the rails. But he said he was most proud of winning a starting spot with the Broncos this season given the devastation of losing both parents in a short space of time.

“It has been quite tough,” Gosiewski said of his twin tragedy.

“It happened pretty fast (his father’s passing) and since I have been at the club I have also lost my mother.

“I lost her last year.

“I have had two broken arms, lost both parents and opened a business so it has been chaotic.

“The only reason I am saying it now is because I am proud of the way I have held myself and still been able to play football.

“They are a big part of my life and I think about them going into every game.”

The no-nonsense back-rower remains off-contract at season’s end, but is hoping to win a new deal at the Broncos after finding his niche under coach Michael Maguire, who gave Gosiewski his NRL debut at Souths in 2016.

“It is good to be back,” he said.

“I broke my wrist in round six or seven and we were on a good run prior to that.

“I have come back and we are winning again which is good. I can’t say it is anything I have done but it is good to be in the right moments and I am just enjoying my football and doing my role the best I can.

“I’m off contract but the plan is to stay here. We put that (talks) on hold while I was injured but I am back playing football now.

“I am sure those conversations will start to come now.”

Originally published as Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski’s emotional revelation he has lost both parents since joining the club