Kapow! Biff! Why Souths can’t stop Melbourne’s Batman and Robin:
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ka...ourne-s-batman-and-robin-20210505-p57p28.html
Braidon Burns reveals why he considered quitting Rugby League
Souths centre Braidon Burns paid $1700 for a rugby league escape plan after injuries nearly forced him out of the game. Now he is back in first grade.
Dean Ritchie
May 5, 2021 - 4:00PM
Returning South Sydney star Braidon Burns was so fed up with battling four successive years of injuries he wanted to walk away from rugby league to become a policeman.
And Burns, while recovering from a ruptured patella tendon late last year, even completed a two-month, part-time Workforce Essentials course at Charles Sturt University, costing $1700, to enter the NSW Police Force Academy at Goulburn.
It was his fourth major injury in four years, the draining recovery process “wearing him down”.
After a 10-month recuperation, a refocused Burns played 50 minutes in the NSW Cup against Canberra last Saturday at Belconnen Oval before being rushed straight back into an injury-depleted Rabbitohs’ side for Thursday night’s big game against Melbourne.
Burns’ comeback game comes as Souths desperately try to overcome injuries to Adam Reynolds, Cam Murray, Josh Mansour, Campbell Graham and Jaxson Paulo. Latrell Mitchell is suspended until round 11.
While enduring another recovery battle just last year, Burns, 24, repeatedly told partner, Tiannan Pennini, he was ready to walk away from rugby league.
“When I first got out of surgery, I was talking to Tiannan about it all and I actually said to her I’m going to give it up,” he said. “That’s where I thought it was going to end.
“I didn’t know whether I was going to get back and play again. Maybe it was because of the painkillers I was on but she said I was pretty adamant about it and that I was pretty set on finishing up.
“I’ve always wanted to be a cop. There was a pathway there which I did through Charles Sturt, which is a prerequisite to get into the Police Force.
“I did that in December last year after the injury and I could have gone to the Academy at the start of this year. I did the course to see what it was like and to see how I would go about it. It is a course you have to do before you can apply to go to Goulburn.
“You’ve only got one year after the course to go to the Academy, it was an option if I decided to finish up (playing NRL).
“Because I was injured, the club gave me time off so I thought I’d do some study. I still want to be a cop once I’ve finished. I will do the course again.”
Once his emotions were cornered and the injury began to heal, Burns realised his passion for rugby league burned deep.
And that only increased when he returned to training around his South Sydney teammates.
“Once I saw the injury was getting better and I started to run again, and then I got back in around the boys again, I started to miss footy,” he said.
“I really enjoyed being back with my teammates and training. That pulled me back into line and reminded how much I love footy and how much I do want to play.”
Burns’ injury list seems to be growing every season.
There was a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee last year, a torn left hamstring in 2019, a patella tendon tear and meniscus damage in 2018, which required surgery, and further patella tendon tears in 2017.
“I have been injured every year,” Burns said. “It wears you down a bit. You’re just hoping for a bit of luck, and you’re not getting it. And you’re not finding form on the field because you’re on and off. I haven’t played much footy over the last five years.
“I have also put my partner through everything I put her through; her having to stay home and look after me. She was adamant once I got back in around the boys that I’d be fine, which I was. I’m glad I listened to her.”
Burns won’t be afforded the chance to ease back into the NRL — he has been thrust straight into a game against the defending premiers at Stadium Australia.
“It was just under 10 months before I played on the weekend,” he said. “It wasn’t until I got off the field and went up to Tiannan, that’s when I felt that relief. To know I’ve gone through that whole process and got back on the field – it meant a lot.
“I got 50 minutes under my belt in the NSW Cup so I’m keen to go. I was just so happy being back on the field. I have ticked every box in my rehab over the last 10 months. I haven’t taken any short cuts.
“We have some injuries from the weekend. But given the strength of our squad, everyone is still confident we can go a long way. It’s exciting times.”