Corey Oates has been cleared of a suspected compound fracture of the femur and could be back on the field within three weeks in a massive boost to the Broncos back-rower and the club.
When Oates was stretchered from the field and taken straight to hospital late in the 48-0 loss to the Wests Tigers on Friday night there were fears that his career could be over.
The 25-year-old went into a state of panic and thought he may never play again when the doctor told him he had sustained a suspected compound fracture of the femur, an injury usually associated with car accidents.
After being rushed to hospital and examined by medicos Oates has been diagnosed with a large haematoma and a deep gash in his leg.
He will have surgery on Saturday and has been told he should be back on the field within three weeks.
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Oates will not fly back to Brisbane but will be driven back to his home city in the coming days. Broncos official Adam Walsh is with him in Sydney and will drive him home.
"Thankfully X-rays ruled out a fracture but Corey has sustained some very deep lacerations that had penetrated his muscles deeply, very narrowly avoiding arteries," Broncos head of performance Paul Devlin said.
"Corey will stay in hospital until his risk of infection is assessed further, before travelling back to Brisbane for further recovery."
Oates's manager George Mimis described the rollercoaster of emotions the Maroons representative experienced on the field.
"His career flashed before his eyes when the initial diagnosis was made on the field," Mimis told NRL.com.
"So thankfully something good came of the night and it is not a compound fracture."
Mimis is unable to visit Oates in hospital due to the COVID-19 bubble restrictions but has spoken to him. Oates cares deeply about the club so there were mixed emotions.
"He is very relieved, but very distraught in the loss," Mimis said.