pj marsh forced to retire

[nqcowboy87]

Brisbane Broncos hooker P.J. forced to quit rugby league with neck injury
By Peter Badel
March 14, 2010
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.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26846830-23214,00.html

a pretty innocous end to a career, i always thought he a was pretty good player especially in his days with parra

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

He was at his best with the Warriors. 2002 will probably be remembered as his best year, but his absolute best imo was the handful of games in 2003 before the injury. He came back for that season about 5kg heavier but didn't seem to have lost any pace, and he was not only making scorching line breaks, he was smashing blokes as well.

 

[aussies1st]

Sad to see him go out like this, had some wicked injuries that really halted his career.

 

[Eels Dude]

That's a sad end to a solid career. Was great for us in two stints with the Eels. Probably would have played a lot more rep footy if injuries didn't get in the way. All the best for his future.

 

[MightyBronco]

Thats saves the Broncs a ton of money. He was on fairly big bikkies for us, with very little return. But i liked him, i was hoping he would get back on the field..

 

[Iafeta]

He was at his best with the Warriors. 2002 will probably be remembered as his best year, but his absolute best imo was the handful of games in 2003 before the injury. He came back for that season about 5kg heavier but didn't seem to have lost any pace, and he was not only making scorching line breaks, he was smashing blokes as well.

Agreed. He was amazing for us in 2002, but 2003 was something. PJ was going to the next level without a doubt in his football. I remember a game for us against Parramatta at Auckland in 2003, we played horrible, PJ decided he'd do it on his own. And did. Scored a ripping try from dummy half from 45m out to start the game, and then proceeded to one by one singlehandedly dismantle Parramatta, 1 to 17 with a series of unbelievable tackles.

Great career, really nice bloke too, all the best to him and his family.

 

[Captian_Klutz]

Ahhh well, on to his next phase of his life.

Good luck Marshie

 

[One Warrior]

He was at his best with the Warriors. 2002 will probably be remembered as his best year, but his absolute best imo was the handful of games in 2003 before the injury. He came back for that season about 5kg heavier but didn't seem to have lost any pace, and he was not only making scorching line breaks, he was smashing blokes as well.

Absolutely agree, he was one of our best and possibly our best ever hooker, one of my favourite Warriors at the time, sad to see him go out like this, all the best to him in his retirement.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Poor bugger, he did well with us. Deserves a better ending then this. And cudos to the Broncos for helping him out.

 

[hineyrulz]

Sad way for him to go out, he had no fear for a little bloke. I remember a game for Parra when he smashed Scotty Logan gave him a gobful and then got us a penalty.

 

[Gengis Khan]

one less grub in the game

 

[Bracko]

Agreed. He was amazing for us in 2002, but 2003 was something. PJ was going to the next level without a doubt in his football. I remember a game for us against Parramatta at Auckland in 2003, we played horrible, PJ decided he'd do it on his own. And did. Scored a ripping try from dummy half from 45m out to start the game, and then proceeded to one by one singlehandedly dismantle Parramatta, 1 to 17 with a series of unbelievable tackles.

Great career, really nice bloke too, all the best to him and his family.

I remember that game. Michael Witt missed 2 kicks from right in front iirc.

A shame that he copped that nasty injury at Parramatta that year. He would have played for the Kangaroos otherwise.

 

[One Warrior]

one less grub in the game

D**khead

 

[Ulysseus]

D**khead

Don't be so harsh, that "one less grub" comment is probably in reference to his elbow dive at TB's head a few years ago.
I wont echo the grub comment, I'll say he should've put steel on the elbow and knocked Barrett's head clean off, f**king overpaid f**king princess he was.

All the best for the future PJ, may you remain in the game by way of another facet such as coaching or commentary.

 

[Meth]

Great bloke.

Fond memories of his stint with the Warriors

 

[simmo1]

Don't be so harsh, that "one less grub" comment is probably in reference to his elbow dive at TB's head a few years ago.
I wont echo the grub comment, I'll say he should've put steel on the elbow and knocked Barrett's head clean off, f**king overpaid f**king princess he was.

Or those times he broke Hodgsons face...

 

[Joshuatheeel]

First saw him play in the 1999 premier league grand final, you could tell he was going to be a star after watching that game. Shame about the injuries.

Wish him all the best

 

[fourplay]

One of my stand out memories of him is when he was playing for Parramatta and Trent Barrett punched him in the side of his head from behind.

Anyway he was a very good player.

 

[Scarves]

When you think about the ability of this bloke and what he could do when fully fit and in form, geez it's been a terrible final few seasons. I really ratged him, I remember his first couple of Origin games and I thought he was destined for national honours... like a Craig Wing in his prime but a better defender. Sad end to what should have been a tremendous career.

It makes me think.... players, take what you can when it is on offer. Many won't remember this fellow in five years and that neck injury will be with him forever.

 

[Gengis Khan]

D**khead

cry moar princess, he was a grub and will always be remembered as a grub.