Legend of rugby league Glenn Lazarus has advised Ryan Papenhuyzen to “keep fighting” as he gets ready for yet another prolonged layoff.
In his third game following a 13-month absence, the 25-year-old sustained an ankle fracture and was scheduled for surgery on Saturday morning.
Resuming in the new year, Papenhuyzen will resume his training after initial concerns that the gun fullback had suffered a complex fracture.
When “Paps,” including Lazarus, who is accustomed to ugly injuries, were removed from the field in the opening game of the 2023 finals series, the rugby league world was shocked.
The front rower for the Broncos broke his leg so badly in the 1997 World Club Championship in Wigan that his foot rotated to face the other way.
Lazarus turned his foot around in graphic images and told foxsports.com.au that he was shocked when the occurrence happened.
The three-time premiership winner then experienced a severe setback when it was found that one of the holes left by the screws in his ankle had been filled with a golden staph infection.
There were even concerns that if the illness worsened, he would lose his foot.
Lazarus turned his foot around in graphic images and told foxsports.com.au that he was shocked when the occurrence happened.
The three-time premiership winner then experienced a severe setback when it was found that one of the holes left by the screws in his ankle had been filled with a golden staph infection.
In the event that the illness worsened, there was even concern that he would lose his foot.
Lazarus was talking about joining the Storm for their 1998 inaugural season at the time, but he had to deal with “demons,” and he thinks Papenhuyzen will have similar struggles.
“Pap is going to face a lot of demons after what he did and coming back from another injury that was quite horrific as well,” Lazarus said to foxsports.com.au.
“There will be some incredibly highs and lows.
“I wish him the best of luck because there are moments when it seems like there is no hope left. You just have to keep going.”
“He has a long road ahead of him, but if he surrounds himself with the right people and puts in the necessary effort, he should be alright.”
“However, he would be down right now.”
Lazarus sympathised with Papenhuyzen, as did all those watching the game live, given what he had to go through to return to playing fitness.
“I immediately remembered the moment I completed mine and contemplated what he would have to endure,” Lazarus remarked.
“I was in my 30s, at the conclusion of my career, and I might have played my final football match at the time.
“I was depressed after the injury, but I felt like I had made some progress even though I didn’t think I would be able to play again.
“I told myself that even though I was satisfied with my accomplishments, I still had a burning desire to play.”
Papenhuyzen “will have doubts,” according to Lazarus, about playing in the NRL again because of concerns that he would sustain yet another serious injury.
He did, however, exhort the Storm shooter to “never give up” and to make every effort to get back into the game he enjoys.
“He will undoubtedly encounter negative thoughts, but as long as he surrounds himself with supportive people, he will overcome them without a doubt,” Lazarus remarked.
“Since I experienced the same feelings, I would like to impart to him the importance of never letting your team down when participating in team sports.
When you initially sustain an injury, you feel as though that’s what you’re doing because of your injury.
“You simply have to keep fighting even though you know you aren’t playing football with your friends. He has a long journey ahead of him, but all he needs to do is make every effort to return.
“I’m positive he will. Youngness on his side, excellent medical personnel surrounding him, but what I remember most are the mental struggles I had over whether or not I would play again.
“Never give up; always persevere.” This will cause you to experience some extreme highs and lows. You only want to play football, but you should persevere and work hard to
