UPDATE: HE endured a few nervous moments, but Broncos star Jharal Yow Yeh says he is relieved just to be playing rugby league again after surviving his first game in 13 months today.
The former Maroons ace completed a 30-minute comeback with his junior club Norths Devils in the FOGS Cup - more than a year after suffering a shocking compound fracture of his right ankle against Souths in Perth.
During his ordeal, Yow Yeh underwent skin grafts and eight operations in 10 months to rectify an injury Brisbane orthopaedic surgeon Peter Myers rated the worst he had seen in football in 33 years.
So when Yow Yeh ran onto Bishop Park, the place where he first fell in love with rugby league, at 3.02pm today, his trepidation was palpable.
With Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin and almost the entire Broncos squad watching from the hill, Yow Yeh sent a scare around Bishop Park when he left the field after just 15 minutes.
Jharal Yow Yeh (second from left) on the bench. Picture: Adam Smith
Playing in the back row in jumper No.10, he reported soreness in his right ankle, but was cleared of serious injury and returned after half-time for another 15-minute stint to help the Devils to a 36-26 defeat of Ipswich.
The 23-year-old looked tentative at times, particularly when running at full tilt, but Yow Yeh's return was a triumph for a man who feared he would never play again.
"We were planning this for a little while but we wanted to keep it under wraps, I didn't want to jinx myself but I enjoyed it," he said.
Jharal Yow Yeh comes off second best after attempting a shoulder charge. Picture: Adam Head
"I was blowing, I've never played second row before so the first half was pretty hard for me, especially coming back to Norths, my old club.
"I did struggle a bit today but I'm just happy to be back."
During his time on the sidelines, NRL authorities banned the shoulder charge. But that didn't stop Yow Yeh attempting a brutal front-on shot late in the game, only to come off second best.
Broncos players look on as Jharal Yow Yeh makes his comeback. Picture: Adam Smith
After staying down for a few minutes, Yow Yeh rose to his feet and soldiered on before receiving an early shower 15 minutes before full-time.
"I wasn't even seeing stars, I saw black and that was about it," he joked of his shoulder charge.
"My goal was to play one game to see where I was at and that's what I've done.
"From here I will take it step by step, talk to the coaches and see what the plan for rehab is with my ankle.
"Today was about seeing how my ankle pulled up. I'm happy to get this one out of the way."
