Injured veteran shows his Quality
GIVEN all the incredible charitable work he does off the field, Storm veteran Christian Welch deserves a slice of good luck in 2023, with the prop confident he’ll be fit for Melbourne’s Round 1 clash against Parramatta.
Welch played just one game last season and missed the rest of the campaign after he suffered a serious achilles injury in the opening round against the Wests Tigers.
He tried to make a late return but the emotional and physical toll of the injury were too much, with Welch sidelined with his third serious injury in six years following ACL tears in 2017 and 2019.
The Origin representative was distraught after last year’s cruel diagnosis but is now on track to return for the season opener against the Eels.
“I’m looking really good for Round 1. I’ve still got to get through a fair body of work, but I’m really positive that I’ll be there for the first game of the year,” he said.
Welch deserves some good luck given what he’s endured, but he says the setbacks are nothing compared to what other people have to go through.
It’s why in 2017, after his first ACL injury, he decided to link up with Camp Quality, where he has since become an ambassador and has raised money and put smiles on the faces of children doing it tough.
“Seeing people with debilitating illnesses and permanent disabilities kind of put my ACL in perspective because my ACL was going to be repaired, I was getting paid the same and didn’t have to worry about paying my bills,” he said.
“It’s a great charity to be involved in … it’s been awesome to give back.”