NRL 2022: Eels star Shaun Lane’s emotional grand final promise to best mate Kurt Drysdale

A talented hooker who had the ability to make first grade, Kurt Drysdale is facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic. His story is inspiring an Eels star.

An emotional Shaun Lane has made a promise to his best mate Kurt Drysdale whose life changed forever after a tackle went tragically wrong.

“The next time I visit him, I’m going with a premiership ring, how good would that be. Kurt can have selfies with the ring, that’s the plan,’’ Lane said.

“When I look back at how much Kurt loved football, how much he would kill to be in the position that I am, he’s been a constant motivator for me.

“I love his family, I love him to death and I will do whatever I can to help them out at any time that I can.”

Shaun Lane has made a promise to his best mate Kurt Drysdale. Picture: Richard Dobson

Which is why Drysdale’s mother Sonya is now crying down the line to The Daily Telegraph as she hands the phone to her son.

“It’s pretty special to have a mate that I know will be by my side for the rest of my life,’’ Drysdale said.

There isn’t a player on grand final day who doesn't have their own story of personal anguish and motivation.

Yet this may be the most uplifting grand final story of all.

The outstanding Eels backrower is playing against Penrith for himself, as much as he’s playing for his schoolyard best friend Drysdale, whose life will never be the same following a catastrophic spinal injury while playing rugby league in 2015 for Cabramatta.

“That’s the person Shaun is, he’ll be playing for Kurt no doubt,’’ Sonya says.

Kurt Drysdale suffered a catastrophic spinal injury while playing rugby league in 2015.

A talented hooker who had the ability to make first grade, Drysdale is facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic with the aid of a respirator to help him breathe.

The positivity in his voice despite the challenges he faces every day, is inspiring.

For Lane, the timing of his best mate’s life-changing tackle is layered with every emotion possible.

Imagine this.

One week after you learn that your best friend since primary school has fractured his C5 vertebrae while playing footy in the Ron Massey Cup, you are told you will be making your NRL debut.

Imagine the emotions. Imagine the torment.

That was Lane back in June, 2015.

“We were at a similar position in our careers after school (Endeavour Sports High) had finished and we were both playing junior reps for Cronulla,” Lane said.

“We were in similar positions where we were on the fringe for Under-20s for Cronulla and I made the decision to leave and he made the decision to stay.

“From there, my career started to take all the necessary steps.

“When the accident happened, it was the week before my NRL debut.”

And at which point, Sonya recognises: “I don’t know how hard it is for Shaun and all of Kurt’s mates in footy to keep playing.

“You would have to think that watching their best mate go through this, would have an impact.”

Eels star Shaun Lane with Kurt Drysdale. Picture: Instagram

Yet perhaps this is the greatest insight into Lane’s character that we’ve read or heard.

It explains how the tall and skilful backrower refused to hate the game, but kept going after being let go by the Bulldogs after one season in 2015, keep pushing despite earning only one game with the Warriors in 2016, and after two seasons with Manly in 2017 and 2018, found his home on the left edge for the Eels.

“It was a freak accident. It was an ugly tackle. But in the NRL those tackles are taken care of a lot more. It’s a lot safer,” Lane said.

“Those tackles have been cracked down on.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking what happened to Kurt.

“It’s been very difficult for years now.

“But he was also massively motivating for me.

Shaun Lane has found his home on the left edge for the Eels. Picture: NRL Photos

“At the start of my career, seeing how much footy meant to him, he was so passionate for the game.

“He held on to the dream of potentially playing NRL one day and then within the week of the accident occurring I’d been given that opportunity to play NRL.

“It was huge for me early on in my career.”

On the Gold Coast where he attends Making Strides, the specialised rehabilitation centre for those with spinal injuries, Kurt said he couldn’t wait for Sunday.

“I‘m a Roosters fan, but I’ll be blue and gold for the day,’’ Kurt said.

“I desperately hope the Eels win, I’m so proud of Laney, he’s worked hard to get here and I know he won’t let Parra down.

“I’d love nothing more to see that ring on his finger.’’

ALL YOUR NRL GRAND FINAL PUNTING NEEDS: BEST MULTIS, CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDAL & MORE

Originally published as NRL 2022: Eels star Shaun Lane’s emotional grand final promise to best mate Kurt Drysdale