Cody Ramsey made his return to the NRL in Round 9, four years after his last game for the Dragons in 2022, following a battle with ulcerative colitis.
He came off the bench for the Roosters, replacing the injured Mark Nawaqanitawase, and ran for 77 metres with a tackle bust and three tackles in a 38-24 win over the Broncos.
Background
Ramsey was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a large bowel disease, in 2022. The condition led to the removal of his entire large bowel, a stoma for six months, and a subsequent reversal surgery. He was told by medical experts that he would not play again.
Statements
"He walked in back in November Cody and I think his issues with his gut and the operations that he's had and the time that he's spent out. And since that day he's brought so much energy to our group." — Roosters coach Trent Robinson
"It's been crazy and I didn't do it alone that's for sure. Even the first week that I come to the Roosters they sat me down with a dietitian and just changed my life within one week, so it's just so special what they've done for me." — Cody Ramsey, acknowledging support from his former club, the Dragons.
Ramsey described the disease: "Ulcerative Colitis is large bowel disease and it targets your large intestine. And when we found my diagnosis it was pretty much burnt bread (dead) the whole bowel, so I had my whole large bowel removed." He now manages his condition without medication, through diet.