As Deine Mariner walks through the Broncos headquarters, his trademark smile, energy and positivity are infectious.
It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks ago he suffered an injury that put far more than football into perspective.
The only telling sign is the scar which runs about 45cm along the side of his thigh.
“It’s been a pretty hectic few weeks but my leg is doing a lot better now,” he said.
“I have a really good support group, the Club have been really good to me and my family.
I missed the boys, we have a really strong bond here so when I got back it was back to normal, like nothing ever happened.
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Mariner suffered a cork in Round 9 against the Roosters which deteriorated as the night progressed.
The seriousness of the condition became clear in the early hours of the morning, when Broncos medical staff were called to his room.
It was apparent he was developing an acute compartment syndrome and an ambulance was called.
“I’m very grateful for the physio and doctor, I called them around 2:30am and they picked up straight away.
“The blood flow was starting to stop going to my leg.
I didn’t think that [losing my leg] was an option until I got to the hospital and they were checking for the pulse in my foot.
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When asked how he felt about that very serious reality, his response was typical of his humorous nature.
“I didn’t think about it too much because when I woke up, I saw my leg was still there,” he laughed.
Time spent in intensive care surrounded by family and friends forced Mariner to slow down and reflect.
“I’m pretty lucky to be in this position,” he said.
“I tried to look at the bright things, I was still breathing, still alive.
Being in ICU, I saw a lot of other people that don’t get a second chance, so I was pretty grateful.
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Now back around the playing group and slowly returning to exercise, his focus is firmly on recovery and building his fitness and strength.
“I want to make sure I’m doing the best for myself and putting myself in a good position for my body and when the time comes, I’ll be ready.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself to get back out there again.
Footy can get taken away from you at any point, but the important things in life are our family and friends.
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