Grev’s good place
TO the outsider, Titans star Chris Grevsmuhl could seem in a difficult spot.
Floored by a long-term injury early in his stint with a new club, the second-rower is likely to need surgery – sooner or later – on a shoulder injury that has halted his comeback to the NRL.
In the past, this would have been a road to ruin for Grevsmuhl, who admits he would have dwelled on the negatives.
But Grevsmuhl’s story is a positive one.
The 24-year-old seemed to have played his last game when he walked out on the Panthers late last year needing time out of the game.
But having worked through many of his issues with depression, he is back in the NRL, with the Titans encouraging him to continue the work that has seen him able to better cope with life.
It’s something that Grevsmuhl is happy to talk about, hoping it can help others see there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s something he’s seen again in the past few weeks as Greg Inglis’s issues have become public, something his Indigenous All Stars teammate Grevsmuhl says is a positive thing.
“Greggy didn’t want it to come out but I’m glad it did because it shows that he’s taken the initiative to work on himself,” Grevsmuhl said.
“As professional athletes we don’t tend to look after ourselves mentally as much as we do physically.
“I’m glad that he’s gone out and got help and it’s going to make him a better person and I hope more people come out in the future and show the initiative to fix themselves.” emma.greenwood@news.com..au
Grevsmuhl said the more that people discussed their mental health issues, the more normalised the conversation would become.
“(Other people) look up to us and they go, well I might be suffering or I might be moving that way, so they speak to people and share how they feel,” he said. “Not enough people do it.” Grevsmuhl said it was only in the past six months or so he had learnt not to sweat the small stuff.
“I’ve had some good help with some mental (health) people off the field,” he said.
“I used to dwell on things a bit too much and wouldn’t do anything.
“I just try to keep a positive outlook on most things now and good footy comes off the back of it.”
Grevsmuhl said he was excited to be at the Titans where he was around “good people who are just looking for everyone to improve”.
Neil Henry has got plenty of wraps for his shrewd footy brain over the years but the Titans mentor is a good people manager and having known Grevsmuhl since his days in North Queensland is the perfect mentor for the young man.
“I’m lucky I’ve had Neil and (welfare officer) Peter Smith and Box (assistant coach Terry Matterson) and all the other coaching staff, they’ve been wonderful,” Grevsmuhl said.
“Neil’s been outstanding since I’ve come in and helped me with everything on and off the field.
“I’m pretty lucky that they’ve taken it on their shoulders to help me out as well.”
Grevsmuhl has spoken out about his issues, in part, to help people know they can come out the other end.
“It’s wonderful (for people to be able to see that). When I left footy I worked on myself mentally and worked on myself when I came back and I’m still working on myself now and getting help from the club,” he said.