HOW MY FACE WAS REBUILT
DAVE Brooks gave blood, sweat and broken bones for his club in this year’s FNQ Rugby grand final – and has the battle scars to prove it.
The Barron Trinity Bulls premiership hero suffered a concussion and shattered his orbital socket in the Bulls’ rousing win over JCU Mariners at Barlow Park in September.
The Cairns plumber underwent two operations for the “Mercedes Benz logo” break with surgeons inserting two plates around his left eye.
“It’s still numb but I’m starting to get some feeling back,” Brooks said.
“If I touch my lip, it feels like I’m getting a tattoo on the side of my face. It’s not jiggling as much anymore though which is probably a good sign.”
For the second surgery, specialists performed a cranial bone-flap that lasted 4½ hours, inserting the second plate near his temple.
“Basically, they cut from ear-to-ear and peeled my face back,” Brooks said.
“The break was just beside my nose.
“I left the hospital the next day but the surgeon was amazed.
“He said it’s pretty remarkable how quickly it’s healed.”
Brooks’ trademark dreadlocks were shaved before surgery with 35 staples and eight stitches placed in his head after going under the knife.
The staples, he said, he removed himself.
Teammate Declan Meredith said he knew Brooks was badly hurt when he saw him call to the sidelines.
“It was a shock to see him come off because he’s as tough as nails,” Meredith said.
“But he’s pulled up pretty well and is looking better than ever, I reckon.”
With surgery quashing his plans to play rugby in Spain, Brooks has taken on coaching Barron’s under 16 and 18s girls sevens teams.
The Bulls girls side will make history tonight, competing in the region’s inaugural sevens competition.
Brooks will then mentor a Cairns under-20s side and open men’s team at the Townsville Sevens tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s great coaching young girls. They’re so keen to learn and willing to listen,” Brooks said. “With the boys, it’s just a bit of fun. It feels like herding cats …. but as far as talent goes, we’ve got a really good side but the game can turn so quickly.
“Hopefully, we’ve got the fitness. It’s been a few weeks since the season finished.”
Despite suffering such a horrific injury, the hardened hooker said he hadn’t ruled out playing next season.
“At the moment, I’m just taking it as it comes,” he said.
“I’d never say never to playing but I’m still not sure.”