The remarkable Rugby League journey of Cody Ramsey has continued with the St George Illawarra Dragon receiving a call-up to train with the Westpac NSW Blues in the Blue Mountains today.
Ramsey, who is captain of the Dragons team in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, was one of four players called in alongside NRL Dragons forward Hamish Stewart, Wests Tigers centre Adam Doueihi and suspended Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston.
It completes a remarkable comeback story for Ramsey who only two years ago was facing the prospect of having to give up Rugby League after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition which saw him lose 28 kilograms and require surgery to remove his large intestine.
Ramsey said the opportunity to train with the team came via Dragons and NSW assistant coach Dean Young and he initially thought it was for the NSW Under 19s team.
“I was pretty shocked,” he said. “It is so professional, so for Dean and (coach) Laurie (Daley) to have the trust in me to do the right thing in that environment … it was very surreal.
“I just want to soak up everything I can whether it’s one day, two days, one hour or two hours.
“This is something I will talk about for the rest of my life.”
Ramsey returned to training in May last year and after 896 days away from the game returned to the field for the Dragons pre-season trial against the Sydney Roosters this year.
The Dragons are second on the ladder in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Ramsey’s form at fullback has been impressive with seven tries, 10 try assists, 11 line break assists (third-best in the competition), and 555 kick return metres (best in the competition).
Ramsey, Stewart, Doueihi and Preston took part in the training session with the Blues at the Blue Mountains Grammar School at Wentworth Falls.
The four players were called in to help manage the workloads of other players and will also take part in Thursday’s session as the Blues' preparations get underway for the opening game of the Ampol State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday 28 May.
Preston will also train with the team on Saturday as Manly Warringah Sea Eagles back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu will leave camp to prepare for his club’s Friday night game against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium.
