After undergoing three reconstructions on the same knee, it’s little wonder Wales half-back Ollie Olds quit rugby league.
But after spending four years retired, his remarkable comeback continues when he faces the might of Tonga in Monday’s World Cup clash. Olds, 29, scored a try as gallant Wales came so close against Cook Islands in their opener, narrowly falling 18-12. They now face a far sterner test but to make it even sweeter, brother James - who persuaded him to have another crack - has been called up to John Kear’s side for the clash in St Helens.
Olds recalled: “We live in Australia and play for Valley Diehards which is quite fitting being a Welsh lad! I’d been out four years originally and then just over halfway through the season my brother hit me up and - not knowing what he’d do next year - said it’d be awesome for us to play together. Originally, I said no but after a week or two I said I’d come down for a training session and go from there.
“I started playing again and within a couple of weeks I’d had the Wales team manager saying he’d seen me online and looked like I’dbe going well in Australia. He said if I’d the opportunity to come, would I take it? I was definitely keen for that. I told him if it happens, it happens and no worries if not. But I’d be honoured to represent Wales again. And here I am. It’s been a bit of a journey but I can’t wait to face Tonga.”
He's come from playing bush footy in Queensland to now lining up against a side who have defeated world champions Australia and Great Britain in recent years. Brisbane-based Olds admitted: "It is awesome to be going up against top NRL and Super League players.
"I'll be facing Huddersfield's Tui Lolohea and there's so much talent in this Tonga side but you want to challenge yourself against the best. John (Kear) has spoken about that today. This is a great opportunity for us to go against Tonga. As Welsh players and Welsh men, we've always been known as underdogs. I think we thrive under that. And we proved against Cook Islands what we can do. If that game had gone on two more minutes who knows what would have happened. We've got a good game plan for Tonga and we go with the intention of winning the game."
He has come a long way since those shocking injuries left him sinking into a depression. Olds explained: "The last knee surgery really rocked me. I knew I had some issues I needed to address outsude of rugby league. I probably relied on sport so much to relieve whatever I was dealing with at the time. I went through a messy break-up and living in Australia with no family, I did really struggle with my identity after that last ACL. I'd also had two ankle clean-outs.
"I hit some forms of depression and anxiety and it was pretty tough. After the third ACL, the surgeon said to me I should look at knocking rugby league on the head for my own well-being. I decided to have a break and did a few other things like triathlons and try take my mind away from rugby. It was a bit like a bad break-up. But from that I learned a lot about myself and realised rugby league isn't everything.
"It was probably the hardest stage of my life but now my life's far better than back then. I've got a lifestyle podcast which helps people deal with adversities and tries to develop confidence and self-esteem in whatever field. I'm lucky to have found that - and lucky that it's done a full circle now and I'm back playing for Wales again."
Meanwhile, Bridgend-born Olds has paid tribute to the impact Leeds Rhinos had on his career. He played reserve grade at Headingley in 2012 and it proved an invaluable experience. He recalled: "We had a couple of opposed sessions against the first team and Rob Burrow was really good. He'd come down and mix with the reserve team.
"But being around players like him, Kev Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, Danny McGuire and Brent Webb at just 17 years old was unbelievable. Being around them made me want to be a better athlete and professional so I was very fortunate to be selected in that Rhinos reserve team. It was a great two years of my life before moving over to Australia.
"Back then you'd have five first-teamers coming back and playing for us if they weren't selected. Kylie Leuluai played one week and we had people like Zak Hardaker, Paul McShane, Brad Singleton - who's my age - Jimmy Keinhorst and Weller Hauraki all playing with us at times. It was great."
