Brisbane Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski has shared insights into the difficult personal struggles he’s encountered over the past year, including the devastating loss of both his parents.
The 31-year-old veteran has been selected on the bench for Friday’s game against the Bulldogs following a period on the sidelines with a broken arm.
While he was healing from the injury, he was devastated by the death of his father, which came after his mother passed away just 12 months prior.
When asked about what it was like to return from the 10-week injury break, he replied: ‘It is a little bit of a hard question.
‘I had some stuff happen away from football in that period of time so the injury was the least of my worries.
‘I lost my father in that period, so that was a tough time.
‘The injury was the least of my worries.
‘I missed not playing football but I had other things going on in life that were extremely tough.
‘The injury was nothing to me.’
Gosiewski has displayed remarkable strength over the past year to prevent his unimaginable personal grief from affecting his performance on the field.
‘It has been quite tough,’ Gosiewski said.
‘It happened pretty fast (his father’s passing) and since I have been at the club I have also lost my mother.
‘I lost her last year.
‘I have had two broken arms, lost both parents and opened a business so it has been chaotic.
‘The only reason I am saying it now is because I am proud of the way I have held myself and still been able to play football.
‘They are a big part of my life and I think about them going into every game.’
The Broncos have secured victories in their last three matches, but will need to be at their best to defeat the soaring Bulldogs.
Gosiewski is without a contract after the 2025 season, but is aiming for a renewal if he can provide steady results.
‘It is good to be back,’ he said.
‘I broke my wrist in round six or seven and we were on a good run prior to that.
‘I have come back and we are winning again which is good. I can’t say it is anything I have done but it is good to be in the right moments and I am just enjoying my football and doing my role the best I can.’