Three months ago, Joel Thompson looked his wife in the eyes and told her he would probably never play rugby league again.

He was lying in hospital, out of an induced coma and recovering from an accident that almost claimed his life — and which he thought would certainly end his NRL career.

“There was times I was laying in hospital going, ‘What have I done to myself, am I going to have to retire here?’,” Thompson told foxsports.com.au on Wednesday.

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Round 19

“I had the conversation with my wife that I wasn’t going to continue to play.”

The veteran Manly forward had been drinking over the Koori Knockout weekend in October when he somehow fell and hit his head on a rock.

Luckily he was discovered before it was too late, and flown to hospital in an induced coma.

What followed was weeks of testing to see if there would be any lasting effects from the fall, if he had done permanent damage to his brain.

Joel Thompson in hospital after falling and hitting his head. Source: Supplied

If he had done, the NRL would have never allowed him to play the sport professionally again.

But more importantly than that, Thompson wasn’t going to risk a serious in-game injury and leave his young family to deal with the consequences.

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“I was in the brain ward. I got to go around and speak to families, talk to the people that were in there, and it honestly blew me away. It’s opened my eyes,” Thompson said.

“I’ve never been in that situation or been around that before. It made me realise how important your brain is, how delicate and how careful you have to be.

“After you learn more about it, which I did after the injury, I was like ‘I’ve got a long life ahead of me and I don’t want to hurt myself any more’.

“But after doing all the tests and going through everything, getting cleared, I wanted to make sure I was cleared and there not even a small chance I would hurt myself. I haven’t held back since then.”

That frightening experience left Thompson with a new perspective on life and a new approach to alcohol.

In fact, his approach to the grog is to steer clear of the stuff.

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He’s put himself on a 12-month booze ban but now Thompson says he may never touch a drop of alcohol again.

“I learned a lot about myself. I had my daughter running up to me in hospital and cuddling me ... (seeing) how much I upset my family and my close friends, people who have supported me through my life.

“My actions, through probably drinking a little bit too much, putting myself in that situation, it woke my soul up, it really did.

“It just changed everything about me. I haven’t touched alcohol since, I don’t know if I will (again). I said 12 months but if I can’t have a drink without having 20 I probably won’t touch it ever again, and I’m happy to do that.

Joel Thompson trains with the Indigenous All Stars. Source: News Corp Australia

“I haven’t been happier. I wanted to do not just for myself, but for the people around me, and I’m glad I did it.”

Since getting the all-clear and returning to training with Manly it’s been all smooth sailing for the 31-year-old.

He earned a new deal with the Sea Eagles, and a call-up to the Indigenous All Stars team.

At training on Tuesday, coach Laurie Daley approached Thompson and asked him to captain the side.

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And you only have to ask Thompson about it to understand how much this week on the Gold Coast means to him and his family.

“It’s not just for myself, it’s for people who have supported me throughout my career and when I was younger,” he said.

“I’m also representing my family and my mob, the Ngiyaampaa people out west, so it’s a proud moment for me and for everyone.

Joel Thompson has earned a new deal at the Sea Eagles. Source: Getty Images

“My daughter, you couldn’t find a more proud girl. She did a welcome to country at her school assembly, which was awesome. She was at home practising that and wanting to learn more.

“As a father, that’s something I’m very proud of.”

The Indigenous All Stars take on the Maori side at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

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