- Mat Feagai feared the worst in recent match
St George Illawarra star Mat Feagai has recalled the ‘very scary’ moment he felt as though his legs had stopped working following a mid-game back injury.
Feagai, 25, collapsed to his knees after taking a yardage carry during his team’s last-start 44-10 loss to Newcastle at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
He remained on the ground in pain for a minute before play was stopped.
With Feagai out of position, the Knights raided the Dragons’ left side in search of more second-half points.
The winger knew he needed to regather his footing to attempt a last-ditch tackle on Dom Young – but was physically unable to do so.
‘I was just screaming at myself inside saying, “You need to get up” because it was coming down that left sideline,’ Feagai said.
St George Illawarra star Mat Feagai has recalled the ‘very scary’ moment he felt as though his legs had stopped working following a mid-game back injury against Newcastle on May 9
Feagai, 25, collapsed to his knees after taking a yardage carry in Wollongong and remained on the ground in pain for a minute before play stopped
Feagai has endured his share of injuries since his 2021 NRL debut, notably suffering a fractured fibula stemming from a hip-drop tackle last year against Manly (pictured, being assisted from the field in the game versus the Sea Eagles)
‘I was right at the back and I was like, ‘I need to find my legs’, but I just couldn’t, I couldn’t move.
‘I lost all power and I couldn’t really stand up. I was a bit scared to be honest, on the field. It felt like my legs just stopped working.’
Feagai eventually regathered his footing and left the field with assistance from a trainer. He was later diagnosed with a back injury.
Since making his NRL debut with the Dragons in 2021, Feagai has endured his share of injuries, notably suffering a high-grade syndesmosis injury and fractured fibula in a hip-drop tackle from Manly prop Tof Sipley last year.
But Feagai has never previously experienced the sensation of losing all power in his legs.
‘Obviously I’ve broken limbs, torn ligaments and whatnot. But it is very scary when you’re on the floor and your legs aren’t working at all,’ he said.
Feagai will miss the Magic Round clash in Brisbane against ladder-leading Penrith on Sunday, when the winless Red V will continue their fight to turn around a horror season.
He may be sidelined for another week beyond that, but has resumed light running and is expected to return in the short term.
‘It’s good signs, it’s slowly healing. They’re pretty confident I should be back within a week or two,’ Feagai said.
A speedy return comes as a relief for Feagai, who has not been offered a new deal for the Dragons next season.
He has been tabled a contract by Castleford, the Super League side that Dragons co-captain Damien Cook will join in 2027.
Feagai has not yet signed with the Tigers himself, but is leaning towards agreeing to terms and reuniting with coach Ryan Carr, a former assistant and interim coach of the Dragons.
‘I feel like I need something new, it’s not the Dragons, it’s nothing on the club or anything like that. I think it might just be my personal journey,’ he said.
