A Remarkable Comeback
Four years ago, the medical prognosis for former Dragons winger Cody Ramsey was as bleak as it could get. His large bowel had been removed, and a stoma bag became a part of his daily routine. Specialists repeatedly told him that his rugby career was over. However, Ramsey refused to accept that fate. On Saturday night, he proved why.
Ramsey made a dramatic return to the field, stepping onto the pitch in jersey number 18 after Mark Nawaqanitawase’s injury. He ran for 77 metres in a chaotic 38-24 win over the Broncos. This marked his first appearance in the NRL since 2022.
Fox League commentator Cooper Cronk was deeply moved by the moment. “It is a helter skelter game, and it’s all about performance and everything, but sometimes there are emotions that sit below it,” he said during the broadcast. “Cody Ramsey played the first game in a long, long time. Jersey number 18. How proud is it a moment for you as a coach, but give us a bit of insight into his challenges, and he just turned up tonight.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, known for his stoic demeanor, expressed his admiration for Ramsey. “He walked in back in November, Cody, and I think his issues with his gut and the operations that he’s had and the time that he’s spent out,” Robinson said in the post-match press conference. “And then, since that day, he’s brought so much energy to our group. He’s such a good man. He’s always on top of the ground. He’s always asking how to improve, and he’s been ready to play in the NRL for about six weeks.”
Overcoming Adversity
Ramsey’s journey to this moment was anything but easy. Ulcerative colitis had ravaged his body from the inside out. By the time it was diagnosed in 2022, the damage was irreversible. “Ulcerative Colitis is a large bowel disease, and it targets your large intestine,” Ramsey explained. “When we found my diagnosis, it was pretty much burnt bread (dead) the whole bowel, so I had my whole large bowel removed, and it left me with a stump, and it’s connected to your bottom.”
He had a stoma for six months, which involved a bag. A stoma reversal followed, where his small bowel was connected to his large bowel. “It’s gravity-fed by food, so I had to reintroduce every food I’ve ever eaten back into my new stomach. Too much water and you have to balance out your food with your water, and I guess I’m not really on any medication, it’s all natural, and just figuring out what I need to eat.”
Ramsey paused before adding a line that shocked everyone. “But it’s an awful disease, and it happens to 1 in 100 people, but when I found it in 2022, it was irreversible, and we kind of just had to deal with the challenges from there. So I guess that you can see why they said not to come back, but it’s really lucky I didn’t believe them.”
Rebuilding a Life
When Ramsey arrived at the Roosters, he weighed just 77 kilograms, a far cry from the athlete he once was. What followed was a quiet, methodical rebuilding of a human being, not just an athlete. He showed his gratitude after the victory on Saturday night. “Honestly, it means the world,” Ramsey said. “From a week before I even got here, the things that they’ve done for me, and it wasn’t even about putting on weight because I was about 77 kilos when I did come to the Roosters, and it wasn’t about putting on weight, it was about just being me and being confident.”
The Roosters provided him with support, including dietitians who helped him regain his strength. “There is an aura about the club that they give you. It’s just about backing myself and then the weight did come with everything the people that they had around me, the dietitians, and then I got to that 86 kilo mark, which is I feel is right for me.”
A Moment to Remember
Ramsey’s return to the field will be a moment that nobody in that stadium will forget. His resilience, determination, and the support from his team have led him to this incredible comeback. It’s a story of hope, perseverance, and the power of belief.
