‘I questioned if rugby league was my purpose’: Jason Saab sees the world differently after ACL injury

His teammates call him the “Nigerian Nightmare”, but Jason Saab has been a saint off the field after gaining a new perspective on life.

Jason Saab’s time away from the game helped him see the world through a different lens. Picture; NRL Photos

They are the dreaded three letters that no athlete ever wants to hear, but according to Jason Saab and his teammates, last year’s ACL injury “was the best thing in the world” for a young man who now sees the world very differently.

The towering Sea Eagles winger has always been blessed with blistering speed and an epic vertical leap, which is why it was so special to see him fly high to score the matchwinner against the Tigers last week.

Jason Saab scored off a kick last week to help Manly beat the Wests Tigers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

It was a similar play in round 22 last season that ended his year when he suffered a serious knee injury against the Titans, drawing the curtain on a tumultuous 2022 after being caught up in the pride jersey controversy.

Athletes respond differently to adversity, but for Saab, the injury proved to be a blessing in disguise.

“I want to give big raps to Saab. He’s come back and he’s reinvented himself,” teammate Josh Aloiai said, describing Saab as “the Nigerian Nightmare”.

“That ACL – and I mean this in the most positive way – was the best thing in the world for him.

“He worked on himself – there are some things that I won’t share – but he’s worked on himself and he’s got a gritty, tough edge about him. I’m really proud of him.”

Saab used his time away from the game to bulk up, but the biggest changes had nothing to do with footy.

Saab is a lot more physically imposing than he was before the ACL injury.

“After a bit of reflection after the first few months of the injury, I thought this is probably something I need to grow as a person to figure out what I want to get out of life and what my purpose is,” the deeply religious winger said.

“It was more of a personal thing, and coming back to footy gave me a bit of a reset.

“I’ve been playing footy non-stop for the last 10 years and I haven’t had a big injury before, so I used that to train really hard, work on myself mentally and figure out who I want to be by finding my identity.

“I think I’m still doing that now, but that’s what I used the injury break for.

“It was about figuring out my purpose off the field. I believe that is to help people. Obviously being a Christian as well, I believe that we’re here to serve and love.

“That’s something I’m trying to do with my work off the field at the moment.

“On the field, it was realising that I’ve got these dreams and aspirations, but being a fast player’s not going to get me there, so I had to work on parts of my game.”

On the outside, Saab is everything you want in a winger, with the 22-year-old standing at 199cm and easily in the top three fastest players in the NRL.

But there were times last year when he toyed with the idea that rugby league may not be the most important thing in his life, with the philosophical winger keen to help victims of bullying after dealing with abuse when he was younger.

Saab has all the attributes to be one of the best wingers in the world, but it’s his work off the field that is driving him to be better each day. Picture; Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“All the time I questioned if rugby league was my purpose,” he said.

“I truly believe that it is a God-given opportunity, so I’m just trying to take it with two hands and make the most of it.

“Being a religious person, footy doesn’t come first in my life, but that also takes the pressure off knowing that there are more important things in this world, so I can just go out there and thank the Lord that I can do that.

“Some people know that as a kid I was a victim of bullying, and I felt like that really helped me grow into the person I am now.

“Given my platform, I’m trying to give back to the kids who are going through that now. I’m working with kids and schools with people who are going through that stuff. I’m trying to set up mentorship programs and whatnot.

“I know I have to give back, but I’m just trying to figure out how to do it.

“I had the setback, and 2022 wasn’t a good year. I dove headfirst into my faith and got closer with God, and that put me on the right track.

“I’m seeing the world in a different light, and it appears differently to me. I’m just trying to enjoy what God has given me.”