Storm star’s relief after harrowing concussion setback
Melissa Woods |
Kissing the ball as he celebrated scoring Melbourne’s match-winning try, Will Warbrick said his overwhelming emotion was relief.
It was relief making amends for two early errors in their 26-18 qualifying final victory over Canterbury, but more than that, it was relief that the worst period of his sports career, and life, was behind him.
Migraines, dizzy spells, trouble focusing – the Storm’s Kiwi winger was plagued by debilitating concussion symptoms after a head knock during the Indigenous and Maori All-Stars game in February.
He tried to play in round one and had delayed symptoms, tried again in round four, but was then sidelined until round 26.
“At the start it was just some head pressure and headaches, and then once I got to the point where I was getting migraines and dizzy spells and light-headedness and had trouble focusing, there was plenty of symptoms,” said Warbrick.
“It’s not like one symptom or a couple, there’s a lot going on.
“I don’t think I’ve endured something so challenging before, I don’t feel like I’ve experienced something that’s really tested my character.
“I had some serious tough times that really took a toll on not only my physical wellbeing, but also my mental wellbeing.
“I had to really rely on the support of other people, my family, my friends, and even the people at the club. I really had to lean on my support system, especially early on, to get through the tough times.”
An Olympic sevens silver medallist before switching to the NRL, Warbrick has emerged as a fixture on the Storm wing since making his debut in 2023.
In that year he also sent Melbourne into a preliminary final, flying high to secure a Cameron Munster kick and score with 90 seconds left to beat the Sydney Roosters 18-13 in their sudden-death semi-final.
This time around, after two dropped balls in the first half at AAMI Park, Warbrick intercepted a pass from Bulldogs second-rower Viliame Kikau and raced 80 metres to touch down in the 76th minute.
Even Craig Bellamy cracked a rare smile in the coaches box, and said he was delighted for Warbrick after the early blunders.
“It was a great effort from him, he kept backing himself, even though he’d come up with a couple of errors in the first half,” the coach said.
“You’ve got to deal with that and I was so happy that he did and still kept playing.
“I thought his contribution for the game was really impressive with the amount of time that he’s missed.”
Warbrick described the match-winner as a “special moment”.
“I think it was just relief that I had the legs to get across, because before that moment I was pretty buggered – it was another step up in intensity for me with the first week of finals and playing the Bulldogs,” the 27-year-old said.
“That was a pretty special moment and something I really tried to soak in.”
Three games into his comeback, Warbrick said his focus would be on rest and recovery over the next two weeks before trying to add some “polish” to his game for the Storm’s preliminary final.
“I feel like I’ve got levels in me but at the same time, I’m where I’m at now and I’m doing the best I can,” he said.
“Obviously, probably a bit more game conditioning but I feel like that was another tick to get through a game like that.
“I’m always trying to get better and grow and I feel I’ve got more to give.”
AAP
