Coles back from his ‘dark places’
Dane Coles has the smile back on his dial and a spring in his step after four months in which he went to “some dark places” with his concussion problems.
The Hurricanes season skipper will wear the No 16 jersey for Friday night’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Brumbies in Canberra and may see as much as 30 minutes of action depending on how Ricky Riccitelli goes.
Coles was given a medical clearance last Friday, having already eased his way back into training with the All Blacks and Hurricanes. A rib injury stymied some of his 2016 playoffs run but he now looks set to play a full part for the defending champs in the home stretch.
The support of his partner, advice from the likes of James Broadhurst and Charlie Ngatai, the help of a sports psychologist, and backing from the All Blacks and Hurricanes have helped as his symptoms eased in recent weeks. His time in the All Blacks camp was a real boon for him.
“I’m pretty nervous. I’m confident I can get through it [Friday night], and can’t wait to get out and play footy. This is the hardest four months of my career and I’m just happy to be back in the routine of being a footy player again,” said Coles.
“I got into some dark places, I couldn’t really do any exercise and I had conversations with my partner about retirement. It was really hard.
“It was constantly on my mind. It wasn’t until I saw a sports psychologist at the concussion clinic I got referred to that I got some structure in my life. I was quite negative, not in a bad way, but I thought this might be it,” he said.
“You just become so conscious of your brain and the way you think. You just watch the lads go about their work, but even going to the stadium I would struggle with the noise and be down for a couple of days. But I slowly clawed my way back.”
Now he will just need to switch up mentally in Canberra after four months where he admitted he was a terrible rugby-watcher.
“There’s obviously a bit of fear, that’s usual. Knowing the way I play and my attitude, once I’m in the thick of it I’ll be just thinking about playing footy. I’ve trained with the Canes boys for a couple of weeks and I’ve been getting into them at training. I’ve just built up my contact and getting that belief and confidence back and I’m in a good spot.”
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said Coles would probably be captain whenever he enters the fray.
“It’s been a journey for him, a bit frustrating and he’s had his ups and downs, but there seems to be a point where a smile comes back and the spring is back in the step,” Boyd said.
“He doesn’t like to lose at anything. He’s a massive competitor and incredibly committed to the Hurricanes and the cause.”
On the debit side, Vince Aso’s groin is still not right and he is not travelling to Australia, but may be right for a semifinal.