'I thought my career was over': Jamie Jones-Buchanan reveals “dark time†ahead of 400th Leeds game
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- 19 Apr 2021
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Jamie Jones-Buchanan has lifted the lid on the one time he thought his Leeds career was over ahead of his 400th appearance for the club.
Jones-Buchanan will become only the 14th player in the Rhinos’ history to reach the landmark against Hull on Thursday but has revealed it looked impossible when he suffered a serious injury as a teenager.
He says he has never contemplated joining a rival club - but admits he feared for his career just as it was getting started.
JJB told Mirror Sport: “The only time was when I had a really bad groin injury at 18 and only played about eight games in two years.
“I pulled my adductor off the bone and had two operations on it - it slowed me right down and I lost all of my agility.
“It was a dark and really dismal time - the worst injury I’ve ever had.
“It got to the stage where I thought it was never going to get right.
“I was in agony at times - I couldn’t sleep on my side, and when I sidestepped on the pitch it was the worst pain ever.
“I was fortunate really that back then there was a reserve team that gave me a little bit more time to get back into it.
“Had it been this day and age, who knows, I might never have made it back.
“Gary Hetherington often tells me the stories from behind the scenes then, and the doctors didn’t think I’d be able to play properly again.
“But through that adversity, you learn perseverance and resilience, and that has upheld me ever since.
“In terms of going anywhere else though, there was only ever one club I wanted to play for and I’ve been fortunate enough to do that.
“I really appreciate how the club gave me every opportunity to get myself right, and I’d like to think that I’ve in some way contributed to return that grace.”
With seven Grand Final-winning appearances, one Challenge Cup and three World Club Challenge wins, there’s little doubt that the durable back-rower has more than repaid that faith.
And he says reaching the 400 mark doesn’t represent just another game.
Jones-Buchanan said: “It definitely does mean something to me, it’s not just a number.
“I grew up supporting Leeds and only went there to watch my heroes as a kid.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d play or represent the club at that level.
“I remember when I made my debut for Leeds, and running out just once in the blue and amber shirt was a dream come true for me.
“To represent them 400 times, the novelty has never worn off, and to be only the 14th player to do it is immense for me because I like my history and heritage.
“To have that badge is amazing.
“That said, it won’t affect my game or make me a different person - but for me this is really special.”
Jones-Buchanan and his Rhinos team-mates go into the Hull FC clash on the back of a desperate late defeat to Wigan that the second rower admits was tough to take.
He said: “I’ve only just stopped sulking now, it was terrible.
“We’re in makeshift changing rooms at the moment so you almost get changed right next to the other team, and we could hear them singing their songs next door which rubbed our noses in it a bit.
“I don’t like losing at the best of times but for it to happen in that manner was extra bad.
“But I was talking to Richie Myler this week and saying that sometimes defeats like that aren’t that bad if you can learn from it.
“Hull have got some of their special players back now.
“They will be aiming for the top four again and have all the ingredients and potential to do that.
“Winning over Leeds at home for them would be a big catalyst for that, but we’re just thinking about ourselves.”
