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Dominic Young has spoken for the first time about the \u201cheartbreaking\u201d health setback that has cost him a cherished Test jersey and left him languishing in a Leeds hospital after a sinus infection spread to his brain.<\/p>\n
Having finished as the NRL\u2019s top tryscorer following a breakout season with Newcastle, Young travelled back to his native England to play in the season-ending international matches against Tonga. What began as a sinus infection quickly escalated to a much more serious condition that has ruled him out of the Test series and will also sideline him for a significant portion of the pre-season.<\/p>\n
In his first interview since the ordeal, the Roosters recruit said he is grateful his condition is improving after undergoing emergency surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe infection I had spread to the brain, which was quite serious,\u201d Young told this masthead from his hospital bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI obviously had to get that removed and it\u2019s just being monitored now. It was surgery, they had to go up through my nose and remove it, kinda drain it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started from a sinus infection. I was congested for a little bit and I flew over and the pressure in my head made it worse.<\/p>\n
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Dominic Young is on the mend.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>James Brickwood<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI was getting bad headaches and went to the hospital for the headaches. I\u2019ve had migraines and stuff before but I\u2019d never felt anything like I was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cI woke up in hospital the next day and my eye was really swollen. I spent the night by myself and then the family came in the morning and they were [asking] \u2018What\u2019s happened to your eye?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThe doctors got pretty concerned, I went for a scan and then they realised it had spread a bit. That\u2019s when it all kicked up.\u201d<\/p>\n The congestion issue worsened after the flight from Australia and Young soon realised the issue was more serious.<\/p>\n Dominic Young\u2019s breakout NRL campaign was capped by a miraculous try against the Dragons.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cMy sinuses weren\u2019t great, but that wasn\u2019t any real alarm for me because that\u2019s kinda normal, isn\u2019t it?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut when I landed, each day I got a light headache and didn\u2019t think too much about it. Then it kind of ramped [up] and it got a bit serious.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling better now, obviously still in hospital, but kinda on the mend now.\u201d<\/p>\n Medicos are yet to provide Young with a discharge date, but the best-case scenario is he could be allowed to leave by the end of the weekend. Regardless, he will need to recover in England for several weeks before he is allowed to return to Australia.<\/p>\n \u2018I think I\u2019m going to be out of action for a decent amount of time. It is disappointing.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIf I didn\u2019t get on the antibiotics as early as I could, it would have spread a lot faster and been more dangerous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing I nipped it in the bud as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to have to be on antibiotics, I\u2019ve got a device in my arm that is going to stay there for a while.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be on antibiotics when I get home [in England] for a few weeks before I can even think about flying back. I will probably miss a bit of the pre-season, [but] it won\u2019t set me back for round one or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n John Bateman helped England to a 22-18 win over Tonga in what would have been Dominic Young\u2019s sixth Test.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Young has already represented England on five occasions and was hoping to add to that tally in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously heartbreaking, that\u2019s the reason I came over: to play,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always spoken about how much it means to me to pull on that jersey, it\u2019s disappointing. The most important thing is I am with my family and they can look after me. I\u2019m on the mend now and I\u2019ve got to look at the positives, but obviously it\u2019s really disappointing to miss out.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m going to be out of action for a decent amount of time. It is disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n Young scored 25 tries last season for Newcastle, eclipsing the previous record of 21 held by Timana Tahu. The 22-year-old is looking to continue that form at the Roosters, where his older brother Alex has also signed from next season.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a big boy, taller than me, he\u2019s around six foot seven [200cm],\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be very cool to play with your brother. We always spoke about it when we were younger. This is the first time he\u2019s gone in and really believed in himself and attacked rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be interesting to see how he goes in a full-time environment, it will bring the best out of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary.<\/i><\/b> Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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