Dylan Lucas makes remarkable injury comeback

Dylan Lucas’ remarkable comeback from an ankle dislocation has given him a unique perspective on what Nathan Cleary is now facing after suffering an ankle fracture. Lucas knows the injuries are different, but he also knows what it’s like to see teammates visibly shocked and uncomfortable as a player suffers a horrific ankle injury.

When Lucas was taken from the field in a medi-cab after the injury in Round 21, there was an immediate feeling his season and World Cup ambition were finished. However, just over two months later, he is preparing to face the Sydney Roosters in an NRL Grand Final.

Lucas’ Recovery

Lucas’ recovery has been remarkable, and he has been able to return to the field in time to play a role in the finals. He admits the first few weeks were the most difficult, with him being in a moon boot and trying to get his range of motion back. However, once the swelling went down, he began pushing himself to make it back in time.

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“The first couple of weeks were pretty slow,” Lucas said. “I was just in a moon boot, weight bearing a little bit and sort of trying to get my range of motion back and get the swelling down. Then after the first couple of weeks and the swelling went down, it sort of just took a turn for the better.”

Lucas’ motivation was never solely about getting himself back onto an NRL field to simply play. He desperately wanted to share the field with his teammates again, particularly those who would be leaving the team at the end of the season, such as Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell.

Advice for Cleary

Lucas has some advice for Cleary and anyone else facing an extended rehabilitation. “You have just got to stay around the group as much as you can,” he said. “You can get in your head during rehab when you’re not with the boys as much.” Lucas believes staying close to his teammates was just as important in getting his mind ready to return.

For Lucas, the reward for fighting through the pain and uncertainty is now sitting directly in front of him – a Grand Final and a chance to help Newcastle win its first premiership since 2001. The Newcastle community has also made sure Lucas knows exactly what his return means, with everyone he meets wanting to tell him how good he’s going and how special it is to realize the impact he can have on the town.

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Lucas’ injury may be different to Cleary’s, but the perspective he can offer is still valuable. He knows the shock of watching an ankle injury unfold in front of teammates, the uncertainty that follows, and how difficult it can be to trust the body again. And he knows the importance of having something to fight for – for Lucas, that meant getting back for his teammates, and now it means helping them finish the job, with the Grand Final against the Roosters just days away.

Lucas is set to come off the bench in the Grand Final, his third appearance since returning from the injury. The forward’s turnaround is remarkable, going from being carried away from the field in Round 21 to potentially playing in a premiership decider barely nine weeks later.

Grand Final Preparations

The prospect of missing what could be their final games together gave Lucas another reason to keep pushing through the difficult stages of his rehabilitation.