Player prepares for World Cup after career reshaped by injury

The Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup is occurring simultaneously with regular men's, women's, and wheelchair tournaments. All games will be held in Sydney. Australia, England, and New Zealand are participating in the three-team round-robin tournament running from October 30 to November 8. Australia's Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) star fullback, Bryce Crane, faces England in the opening match tonight at Cabramatta Rugby Leagues Club.

At 18 years old, while playing for the Narellan Jets in south-west Sydney, Crane suffered permanent nerve damage and paralysis of his right arm after being tackled in 2020. He has no recollection of the game he loved that he lost. Crane is now preparing for the World Cup as Australia's PDRL representative. He played in the inaugural PDRL World Cup in 2022, despite Australia not winning a game.

At that time, he received recognition for his performances by being included in the Rugby League World Cup Dream Team alongside players from other tournaments. Crane's PDRL teammate and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs assistant coach, Luke Vella, admires Crane's humility, encouragement, and humility. Vella, who was injured at the aged of 20 and subsequently lost his career, returned to the sport and became an under-20s coach for the Bulldogs, leading them to the Jersey Flegg Cup in 2023.

Vella was later promoted to first-grade coaching, balancing his role in coaching with his international debut for Australia against New Zealand in November 2024. Both Crane and Vella express their pride in representing their country and acknowledging the broader impact of their participation in the PDRL World Cup.