A host of players spent 2025 on the sidelines, but have returned in fine form this year.
Injuries are part of rugby league, that much is for certain, and the way players come back from those injuries can be career defining.
Two of the group even played Origin this year in a true mark of their efforts recovering.
The group have made 2026 the year of the comeback, and Zero Tackle runs the rule over the best of the lot today.
Cody Ramsey
Taking no credit away from the above-mentioned players, there is no comeback greater this season than that of Cody Ramsey.
In 2022, Ramsey was diagnosed with a rare chronic illness, ulcerative colitis, a bowel disease that targets the large intestine.
When diagnosed Ramsey was told by doctors there was a 90% chance he'd overcome it and 10% chance that he wouldn't, he was told multiple times that he would never return to play rugby league.
Across a period of 6-8 weeks Ramsey lost 28 kilograms and was hospitalised for approximately 7-8 months all up.
896 days later, Ramsey miraculously returned to the Dragons reserve grade side with his return sparking interest from the Sydney Roosters, where he signed until the end of the 2027 season.
Still a long way of returning to first grade the Rooster made a change that in Ramsey's eyes "changed my life within one week."
Dietitian's came up with a plan that saw Ramsey transform into a build that he felt comfortable with, a transition where he went from 77 kilos to 86 kilos.
1,337 days between appearances Ramsey defied all the odds and returned to first grade in Round 9.
Ramsey has now made 11 appearances for the tri-colours this season to cover for injuries across the backline, with the potential for a taste of finals footy for the first time in his NRL career.
