Melbourne Storm centre Will Chambers makes remarkable comeback

MELBOURNE doctors sought the blessing of ASADA experts before clearing Will Chambers to make his miraculous return from a blood disorder.

MELBOURNE doctors sought the blessing of ASADA experts before clearing Will Chambers to make a miraculous return from a life-threatening blood disorder last Saturday night.

The centre's comeback against Parramatta - just seven weeks after he received emergency treatment for a dangerously low platelet count - is one of the feel-good stories of the year.

But we have been told it would not have transpired without ASADA's co-operation because the medication Chambers takes to regain healthy blood levels could transgress the anti-doping code.

On the eve of Chambers' second game back, against St George Illawarra tonight, Storm officials confirmed the club's doctors had worked with ASADA as the 24-year-old prepared for his return.

"From the moment Will started taking the medication, there has been constant dialogue between our medical staff and ASADA," football manager Frank Ponissi said.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you what substances are contained in the medication.

"But our policy is to report it to ASADA. We don't want to take any chances."

ASADA offers therapeutic exemptions for athletes who rely on medication to maintain regular health.

In Chambers' case, that's an understatement. He broke out in a rash of bruises following Melbourne's round-13 win in Auckland, but made it home without incident.

Doctors feared cancer symptoms, only to discover bone marrow tests were clear.

The eventual diagnosis - idiopathic thrombocytopenia - was only slightly less distressing.

When he was first admitted to hospital, Chambers had a platelet level of four.

Healthy people read between 200 and 300.

Understandably, Storm coach Craig Bellamy was reluctant to risk Chambers again this year. But his progress was remarkable.

"He was pretty much back to full cardio training about 10 days after being in hospital, and we reintroduced contact after that," Ponissi said.

But in order to play for the remainder of this season, Chambers must record a satisfactory platelet count on a blood test 24 hours before each game.

"He just did one this morning and we've got the all-clear for him to play tonight," Ponissi said yesterday.

Although the condition is rare, there is an NRL precedent in former Maroons prop Martin Lang. He succumbed as a teenager but recovered to play 176 games for Cronulla and Penrith.

ASADA previously granted an exemption to Newcastle's Adam MacDougall, who needed medication that contained an anabolic agent to address a fertility issue.

Brad Arthur

PARRAMATTA COACH TAKING RHINOS BY THE HORNS

WHO says the new Parramatta coach can't handle two gigs? While incoming coach Ricky Stuart will be forced to abandon his NSW job, caretaker Brad Arthur is doing just fine as he juggles the NRL duty with a local under-10s side.

Arthur has been coaching the Rouse Hill Rhinos mod league side this season and will complete his term at the grassroots, despite being promoted to also lead the Eels in the wake of Steve Kearney's exit.

With two matches remaining, the Rhinos are at least in line for a finals appearance - some consolation for the senior team's nightmare year.

"We're sitting fourth and it would be a really good achievement to make the finals," Arthur told us. "The original coach pulled out just before the season started, so I stepped in and haven't missed a training session or a match all year."

One of Arthur's sons plays in the side, which has also received pep talks from retiring Eels icons Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt during the winter.

"Burty's son plays in the under-6s," Arthur said. "I think that he and Hindy might look to coach one of the teams together next year."

DEAL YET BE SET IN CONCRETE FOLLOWING GNOME JIBE

IT'S the light-hearted barb that could cost Manly $2.8 million.

We last week revealed a fresh outbreak of hostilities in the Sea Eagles' boardroom, thanks to newly-appointed director Peter "Zorba" Peters labelling co-owner Phil Sidney a "garden gnome".

While some might have been chuckling, major sponsor Kaspersky was not amused.

Sidney was instrumental in securing a three-year extension earlier this season, travelling to China with CEO David Perry to thrash out the deal with Kaspersky boss Harry Cheung.

Cheung and his representatives just happened to be in Sydney when the news broke last Friday, and immediately made their disgust known.

With the sponsorship extension yet to be signed off, they are now calling Peters to be brought to task before formalising the deal.

Cheung is hosting Manly officials and backers at a breakfast in Perth this morning, but the main course will arrive when Peters and Sidney go head-to-head at next week's board meeting.

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THE Roosters hierarchy was this week in talks with Mitchell Pearce's management about the halfback's issues at Bondi Junction.

But don't assume the discussions will lead to Pearce being granted a release. Or that coach Brian Smith won't be there next year as well.

Despite the fact his club will miss the finals for a second season running, chairman Nick Politis remains staunch in his support for the veteran coach.

In his three seasons at the helm, Smith has only had the benefit of two high-profile recruits - Todd Carney and Jared Warea-Hargreaves.

Carney's sacking last September changed Smith's emphasis from short-term to long-term success.

So while it's extremely unlikely he'll stay beyond 2013, the coach has nevertheless built a strong roster of promising young players. With Sonny Bill Williams and James Maloney on their way, Smith will get his best chance to win the club a premiership.

Pearce was reminded of that this week and it's highly unlikely that he'll be going anywhere.

He and Smith have also spoken one-on-one, while the team had a no-holds-barred honesty session on Tuesday. They then shared pizza for dinner.

The Bulldogs have been linked to Pearce, but that mail seems awry given incumbent No.7 Kris Keating has been offered a new two-year deal.

Western Sharks

MOUNTAIN MEN FISH TO WATER

THESE days, it seems that a peroxide hair-do and tub of surfboard wax just won't cut a deal at Cronulla.

But some Penrith roots will do just fine.

Cronulla tackle the keepers of their new catchment area tomorrow night, so what better time than to check out the westification of this once proud beachside outfit.

In the current first-grade squad we have ex-Panthers Wade Graham, Ben Pommeroy, Ben Ross and Matt Wright. Then there's Luke Lewis and Mick Gordon, both of whom will be making the sea-change next year.

But wait ... there could be even more. We've heard the Sharks have also been approached to sign Joel Romelo, who switched from Penrith to Canterbury in 2010.

On the verge of an NRL recall to replace Kris Keating tomorrow night, Romelo might come into calculations should John Morris move elsewhere.

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WE'RE hearing the Sea Eagles are in preliminary talks to sign Penrith prop Mitch Achurch.

Should Achurch join Richie Fa'aoso on the northern beaches in 2013, the front-row stocks will be overflowing.

An early release for Brent Kite would free up cap space, but the prop's wife has just started a bridal business in the area.

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SOONER or later, the full story of Steve Kearney's demise at Parramatta will be told. But in the meantime, here's a teaser: Kearney was so upset after being told his goose was cooked that he pulled out of attending the club's junior awards presentation last Wednesday night.