Titans star Keano Kini has revealed the severity of his neck injury, admitting he was at risk of paralysis before doctors identified the issue. Kini is set to undergo surgery this week to remove a herniated disc pressing against his spinal cord, sidelining him for at least three months.
According to CODE Sports, Kini’s spinal cord was compressed by 10mm—just 4mm away from a potentially devastating injury. The issue came to light after he underwent scans last week following the Titans’ win over the Knights. Despite playing the full 80 minutes, he experienced discomfort post-match, prompting further medical assessment.
The reigning Titans Player of the Year remains optimistic despite the serious nature of his condition, acknowledging how fortunate he was to detect the problem in time.
“I’m pretty lucky—it could have been much worse,” Kini told CODE Sports. “The doctor said that if I had taken another big hit, I could have been paralysed. I feel blessed that we caught this before anything truly serious happened. Hearing that was really scary.”
Kini explained that the herniated disc between his vertebrae was pressing against his spinal cord, and the upcoming procedure will involve removing the damaged disc and fusing the surrounding bones.
Although the injury isn’t considered career-threatening, the Titans are taking every precaution to ensure Kini makes a full recovery. Initially, his return was expected around the Origin period, but he admits that timeline now seems unlikely.
“They originally predicted I’d be back around Origin, but I really doubt that,” Kini said. “Neck injuries are unpredictable, so I’m not rushing anything. My priority is my health over returning to footy this year. Of course, I’d love to be back, but if not, I’ll take my time to get back to my best.”
While the scans were conducted following the Knights game, Kini suspects the injury may have stemmed from last year’s Pacific Championships.
“I think it happened when I played for the Kiwis against Tonga last year,” he recalled. “During the warm-up, I got whiplash from a hit, and the right side of my body went numb. In the first half of that game, I played the ball and couldn’t feel my arm. Then against the Knights, I took a push in the back, and the same feeling returned.”
