Dane Coles Makes Massive Career Revelation

‘This might be it’

New Zealand hooker Dane Coles has revealed that he thought he career was over as he battled back from concussion problems. Coles is set to play his first game in 125 days this Friday, but has admitted he thought that day might never come.

Widely regarded as one of the best hookers in world rugby, Coles says he found himself in a very dark place.

“I got into a bit of a dark place. I couldn’t even do any exercise and I had conversations with my partner about retirement. It was really hard. I love playing footy, it’s my job and I couldn’t do it,” Coles told Stuff.

“There were a lot of days thinking about it, it was constantly on my mind and it wasn’t till I saw a sports psychologist I was referred to, that put some structure in my life and the way I was thinking. I was quite negative, not in a bad way, just thinking ‘this might be it’.”

“I had a talk to my missus and said ‘this might be us, I might be hanging up the boots’ and that was about it. Nothing like trying to find a new job or anything, just the way I was thinking and the state I was in. I spoke to a few good people and they gave me some really good structures to help me see a positive mindset and turn things around.”

Thankfully it’s not the end of his career, it and the hooker is expected to be named on the bench for Friday’s game with the Brumbies.