ANDRE Savelio sported a black eye all week as he prepared to face boyhood idols Brisbane and is probably still sore after facing Castleford.
But it is the marks people cannot see that caused much bigger concern.
It is a wonder the Warrington man is playing rugby league at all after battling a potentially fatal brain illness.
Savelio was just starting to make it at St Helens when he was struck down with auto immune encephalitis in February 2013.
Basically, he was unable to walk or talk and for a brief time his career was the furthest thing from his and his family’s minds.
However, he has fought back and tasted glory with a sterling performance as the Wolves beat the Broncos 27-18 in the World Club Series.
“It was a serious one, a brain illness,” said Savelio, who was reluctant to speak about it.
“But I’m getting over it now. I don’t know too much about it, it’s a real in-depth thing that people like my mum will know more about.
“In a sense I’ve had the all clear. I still struggle with some things but I’m a lot better than I’ve ever been and a lot happier too.”
Savelio joined Warrington in the off-season, scoring two tries in the 30-22 defeat by Castleford on Friday, and it really has been like moving home.
He was a junior at the Wolves from their under-11s to their under-14s and on a good day he says he could drive home from training in just four minutes!
But his family may have had a few divided loyalties last Saturday as some of them still live in Brisbane and the 21-year-old used to walk around in a Broncos shirt.
“My uncles, cousins, grandma and granddad all live in Brisbane,” Savelio revealed.
“They’re always watching me and wished me luck, even though it was Brisbane.
“I remember my dad went away and a Brisbane shirt was the first one he brought back, it’s the first jersey I remember having.
“From that, I took a liking to them. Even though he was a half and I’m a forward, Darren Lockyer was my favourite player.
“I guess I was in a bit of awe about the way he went about his business. I try to pass the ball a bit but he was a different kind of passer!”
Savelio tasted nothing but misery when St Helens met South Sydney and Sydney Roosters in 2015 and 2016 – they lost 39-0 and 38-12 respectively.
He was loaned out to Castleford, where his eyes were opened to the big world that exists out there.
But Warrington’s win over Brisbane confirmed his belief that he eventually made the right move, as has the coaching style of boss Tony Smith.
“I felt I wasn’t developing at St Helens as I should,” Savelio said. “Then I was loaned out to Castleford and that made me realise that there’s more to life than St Helens.
“When you’ve been at one club, you can think, ‘There’s only here, I can only play here.’ I was almost like, ‘I want to be at Saints forever.’
“Then I wasn’t playing for various reasons and I felt I needed a move. Warrington were interested in me in 2015 and this time, I rang Tony back and said, ‘I’d like to come.’
“They jumped at it this time and my family seem a lot comfier now I’m here under Tony.
“He’s a real good man manager and family manager, with him it’s more that you’re a person rather than a player.”
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