Bags of bravery

Ryan Owen: an inspiration

We found out that he'd pushed his eye socket virtually into his brain and needed a six-hour operation to put it right.

Gary Owen, Ryan's Dad
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• It's made us stronger

Barrie McDermott is no stranger to adversity - but even he was impressed when he caught up with Ryan Owen on behalf of Boots 'n' All.

That's because Owen, who plays prop for Warrington's reserves, has ambitions of playing in the Super League despite being deaf.

And just as McDermott overcame the loss of an eye in childhood to scale great heights, so Owen is determined to prove his disability is no barrier.

"We didn't set any goals for Ryan, just to enjoy the game and he just kicked on from there," said Gary Owen, Ryan's Dad.

"We realised that it wasn't just about integrating and mixing but that he had a bit of talent in the game.

"The consultant said to Ryan that 'look, as you get older and the game gets more serious if you get a really, really serious bang it could affect your hearing further'.

"Ryan's reply to that was 'if Barrie McDermott can play and become a professional with his disability I can do it with mine'."

Ryan concurred saying: "After they said that I thought nothing can stop me doing this; people can push and forget what they've got.

"I don't use my ears when I play - I use my eyes more; players use their hands at me more than call the move."

Operation

Owen already shows bravery in bucket-loads just turning up to play. In his last amateur game before joining the Wolves he sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that left him on the sidelines for nine months.

Then in his second game for Warrington he sustained an injury that left him with a titanium plate in his skull.

"He went down for a low ball at pace, collided with somebody's knee and got a four or five inch gash on his head," said Gary.

"We found out that he'd pushed his eye socket virtually into his brain and needed a six-hour operation to put it right."

Ryan, who is now back to full fitness, wears a scrum cap specially designed to protect his forehead and accommodate his hearing aids and continues to impress.

Gary Chambers, Wolves reserve team coach, said: "He's an outstanding player; his biggest attributes are that he's tough and damned honest. He's a pleasure to coach and the lads love him being around; he's pretty inspirational to all of them.

"You combine that with his skill level and his drive and he's a quite a formidable package."