NSW Sky Blues co-captain Isabelle Kelly says she's overwhelmed by the support received and hopes to be out of intensive care over the weekend after suffering a throat injury in Thursday night's women's State of Origin opener.
Kelly has been cleared of a fracture to her larynx and windpipe damage but remains at Westmead hospital with swelling after she was struck in the throat by the forearm of Queensland winger Julia Robinson.
Robinson was placed on report for the 33rd minute incident that required Kelly to be sedated by paramedics in a scary incident that marred the women's series opener at CommBank Stadium.
Kelly posted from her hospital bed on Friday morning with a positive update via Instagram before NSWRL released a statement confirming the Jillaroos star's health had improved overnight.
Gray powers over
"Feeling very overwhelmed with all the love I have received, thank you to all who have contacted myself or my family," Kelly wrote.
"Still in ICU at hospital surrounded by the most amazing staff at Westmead, been a scary 12 hours but hopefully head home tomorrow."
The Sky Blues wouldn't rule Kelly out from potentially being available for Game Two on June 22 in Townsville.
"She is breathing more freely but still has swelling to the throat so she will remain in Westmead Hospital as a precautionary measure," a NSWRL statement said.
Sergis unstoppable
Sky Blues coach Kyle Hilder and her players questioned post-match why play was allowed to continue with Maroons second-rower Tazmin Gray awarded a try while NSW were forced to defend with 12 players.
"I am very worried, and I still don't understand why there wasn’t even a penalty when she was hit in the throat," Hilder said.
"It is a big concern for me when we have got a player on the ground in obvious discomfort and not in a great way, and she was struggling to breathe."
As players came from the field at the end of the 35-minute half, Kelly was in the dressing room and Hilder had to ensure her team remained focused on overhauling Queensland’s 10-6 lead, which they extended to 18-10 at full-time.
“There was a lot going on in the sheds,” Hilder said. “An ambulance came in for Izzy and it wasn't great.
“She was in a lot of discomfort and there was a fair bit of noise coming as well, so we had to rally the girls and just let them know that we had a half to get out there and get on with.”
Some teammates were too upset to do media interviews after the game but Kennedy Cherrington and Jess Sergis told how the players had tried to put their concerns for Kelly aside as they headed out for the second half.
“We’re pretty close, so I just hope she’s alright,” said Sergis, who has played with Kelly for the Sky Blues, Jillaroos, Dragons and Roosters.
“I know for a fact she wouldn’t have wanted to go off so it must have been pretty bad. She gives it her all.
From the field: Apps
“We knew that we had a big 35 minutes of footy and we really had to switch on.”
Cherrington said: “That is not what you want coming in before halftime. We just said ‘eyes on the next job, Izzy is with professionals. Let’s go again, let’s just keep turning up for each other'."
“It wasn’t just a small injury, she couldn’t breathe. She was gasping for air. She got sent to the hospital straight away, so I hope she is alright.”
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