The Canberra Raiders have revealed exactly why star striker Corey Harawira-Naera suffered a seizure on the pitch with no one around him in sickening scenes that left the football world in shock.
Harawira-Neara collapsed and was seen convulsing on the pitch in Canberra’s 33-26 victory over South Sydney on Saturday night, with the 28-year-old lying on the turf for several minutes while being attended to by Raiders medics before being rushed. to the hospital.
Thankfully, he was released from hospital early on Sunday morning, although the club admitted in a video released by the club that he was ‘on the mend again, but not yet free’.
The harrowing scenes left players, fans and broadcasters in shock as the attack came while he was standing alone and not after heavy contact.
As the consequences of concussion and brain disease CTE (which can only be diagnosed after death) continue to rear their ugly head on ex-AFL and NRL players, head injuries and the way they are treated continue to come under scrutiny.
Raiders star Corey Harawira-Naera was attended to by medical staff after suffering a seizure during the side’s win over South Sydney in harrowing scenes
He was carried off the pitch before being taken to hospital as the footy world was in shock – thankfully he has since been discharged
The Raiders striker has made 123 NRL appearances as a diligent second-rower
Canberra boss Don Furner said there were three minor headbutts leading up to the incident that contributed to the seizure
Raiders CEO Don Furner Jr. revealed that the Harawira-Neara seizure was the result of three small headbutts as the football community rallied around the star, who faces at least a month after the game.
“What they (medical staff) found are two incidents that preceded it, where the doctor said, ‘They may be minor, but they lower your threshold,'” the legendary footy boss said of the incident.
“It did go headfirst into the turf, even though it didn’t look too bad, almost harmless.
The set before he made a tackle and also headed a headbutt.
“A few smaller punches in a row, they think, may have contributed to Corey’s seizure.”
The 123-game second-rower is now recovering back in Canberra with family, and Raiders officials are confident no foul play or significant head contact was behind the shocking incident after looking through footage from the match.
Club medics, NRL medical chief Dr Sharron Flahive – a well-known veteran of sports medicine who spent many years with the Wallabies – and neurologists are working together on Harawira-Neara’s recovery to ensure he returns to the game safely .
But the main focus is of course on the veteran’s well-being, not his playing career.
Shocked and “upset” teammates and opponents surrounded the star as he was treated to the ground to give him privacy in a touching show of solidarity.
Players from both sides were clearly in distress as the medics tended to the Kiwi star and surrounded him as he was treated to the ground to give him privacy.
Medicos sprang into action as soon as Harawira-Naera went down behind the game
NRL Immortal Andrew Johns praised the players, broadcasters and Canberra coach Ricky Stuart for the way they handled the scary situation.
“It (the Harawira-Neara fit) didn’t look good. I have to say well done to the players, the way they formed a guard and… well done to the broadcasters, they didn’t come close to showing the situation he was in because I imagine it’s quite graphic, he said Wide world of sports.
“He is in good hands, the medical staff, the way they treated him on the field with velvet gloves.
“And I thought Ricky Stuart, the way he came onto the field to look after his players, he’s in good hands, they’re not going to rush him back.”
Johns, one of the game’s most recognizable figures and commentators, said it was clear from the start that players were upset by the situation; which emphasized that footy isn’t everything after all.
“The look on some players’ faces, it went up close to Albert Hopoate and you could see Albert, just the concern on his face,” he said.
“We all love footy because it’s the most important thing in their lives. You realize when this happens health is number one so hopefully he will be back this year, I imagine he will be back.”
Hopoate was indeed upset.
He is very close friends with Harawira-Neara, living with him for three years and admitted to being shocked by the incident.
“Of course it was pretty scary then,” Hopoate told AAP after the game.
“You don’t expect something like that to happen, especially in a game. There aren’t many words.’
The Raiders striker (pictured left trying to escape the clutches of Damien Cook during the match) thanked the footy community for their support and said he was eager to return to the pitch
In the video released by the club on Sunday, Harawira-Neara thanked the NRL community for their support and said he looks forward to returning to the football field.
“I’m on the mend, not free yet, but we’ll do some more scans and figure it out,” he said.
‘Health comes first, but of course I also hope to be back on the field as soon as possible.
“I’ve been lucky enough to receive a lot of messages about what happened last night.
“I’m doing a lot better now, so love to you all.”
The seventh-seeded Raiders will look to continue their strong recent form on Friday night as they head back onto Federal Highway to take on the Tigers.