ManlyBacker
Winging it
Former Queensland Origin hooker P.J. Marsh says he is devastated as he comes to terms with the reality that his 10-year NRL career is over.
The Brisbane Broncos rake said that he was "in shock for two days" after a meeting last Tuesday with Gold Coast neck and spinal specialist Matt Scott-Young, who delivered the words Marsh wasn't ready to hear.
"It's all over for me," said Marsh, who will undergo disc replacement surgery in his lower back on Monday week.
"It's not the way I wanted it to end but it got to the point where it was affecting my life and I couldn't keep going on like this.
"I haven't been able to sleep properly for two years and there were days after training when I would need to stand under a hot shower for 30 minutes just to give me some relief in my back. I couldn't even play a game of backyard cricket with the kids.
"I'm really proud of what I've been able to achieve. The Broncos have been fantastic, they've said they'll help me out with my rehab so I just want to get the surgery done now and in three months' time I'll be able to live a normal life."
Marsh's career has been at the crossroads since February, when the former Parramatta and Warriors hooker was so paralysed by his back pain that he couldn't get out of bed while in camp with the Indigenous All Stars team.
Marsh, 30, and his manager, Jim Banaghan, met Broncos boss Bruno Cullen on Thursday to inform the club of his injury-enforced retirement.
A veteran of four Origin games, Marsh was off-contract at season's end, with his 2010 deal worth about $180,000.
The No.9 played just five games for the Broncos last season, but the club has promised to help Marsh financially and provide medical and rehabilitation services.
"One of the most comforting things P.J. heard when he found it was over is the Broncos saying, 'Don't worry about money, worry about your health, we'll look after you'," Banaghan said.
"He hasn't been able to play as much first grade as he would have liked, but they've treated him like they would a seasoned Test player.
"He's been in absolute agony, he can no longer put up with it."
Marsh played 158 games with Parramatta, the Warriors and Brisbane, featured in the Eels' 2001 grand final defeat, and showed enormous courage to return from neck surgery that threatened his career in 2003.
The Brisbane Broncos rake said that he was "in shock for two days" after a meeting last Tuesday with Gold Coast neck and spinal specialist Matt Scott-Young, who delivered the words Marsh wasn't ready to hear.
"It's all over for me," said Marsh, who will undergo disc replacement surgery in his lower back on Monday week.
"It's not the way I wanted it to end but it got to the point where it was affecting my life and I couldn't keep going on like this.
"I haven't been able to sleep properly for two years and there were days after training when I would need to stand under a hot shower for 30 minutes just to give me some relief in my back. I couldn't even play a game of backyard cricket with the kids.
"I'm really proud of what I've been able to achieve. The Broncos have been fantastic, they've said they'll help me out with my rehab so I just want to get the surgery done now and in three months' time I'll be able to live a normal life."
Marsh's career has been at the crossroads since February, when the former Parramatta and Warriors hooker was so paralysed by his back pain that he couldn't get out of bed while in camp with the Indigenous All Stars team.
Marsh, 30, and his manager, Jim Banaghan, met Broncos boss Bruno Cullen on Thursday to inform the club of his injury-enforced retirement.
A veteran of four Origin games, Marsh was off-contract at season's end, with his 2010 deal worth about $180,000.
The No.9 played just five games for the Broncos last season, but the club has promised to help Marsh financially and provide medical and rehabilitation services.
"One of the most comforting things P.J. heard when he found it was over is the Broncos saying, 'Don't worry about money, worry about your health, we'll look after you'," Banaghan said.
"He hasn't been able to play as much first grade as he would have liked, but they've treated him like they would a seasoned Test player.
"He's been in absolute agony, he can no longer put up with it."
Marsh played 158 games with Parramatta, the Warriors and Brisbane, featured in the Eels' 2001 grand final defeat, and showed enormous courage to return from neck surgery that threatened his career in 2003.
