Jansin Turgut targets Super League return after Turkish delight

Jansin Turgut says he wants to return to Super League one day after representing Turkey less than three years after suffering catastrophic injuries in an attempt to take his own life.

The 26-year-old spent a month in a coma in 2019 after a life-threatening fall from a car park in Ibiza. He broke every bone in his face, both legs, his pelvis, hip and wrist from the fall.

But Turgut has done tremendously well to recover from his injuries be back in a position where he was able to return to his beloved rugby league. He returned to playing with local community club West Hull recently as well as taking up boxing as well as gym training.

Speaking to Love Rugby League about his return to action, Turgut said: “I’ll be honest my return was Drighlington away and it was freezing cold, raining, muddy and a slow game.

“I was sore for a full week at work after it and thought to myself ‘what am I doing? I need to sit down and have a think is this what I want to do?’

“I’ve found the love for the game again”

“But seven games later with West Hull I’m still playing and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve found the love for the game again. Hopefully it’s a way to show people you can struggle and get through it and things can get better.

“It was my stubbornness and determination was telling me I have to just to see if I can physically do it (play rugby again), then that would see how measurable it would be to play professionally again.

“There were lots of times I struggled with pain and setbacks and people telling me it isn’t a good idea. I was just boxing and doing weights and only coaching was my involvement in rugby. Being around the boys was immensely hard not to want to be part of the group as a player.

“Not long after I got the all clear from my medical and they told me my bones had repaired thicker and will be stronger.

“I had interest from some clubs and even went down to London Broncos for testing and medicals. I’d only ran a couple of times but did well on the running and weights then they offered me a decent contract but I couldn’t take it due to family personal issues.”

Turkish delight for Jansin Turgut

Although born and raised in Hull, Turgut is eligible to represent Turkey via family heritage. His father’s side of the family are Turkish.

Turkey selected to represent his Turkish roots in their clash against the Australian Defence Force on ANZAC Day. It was a curtain-raiser to the NRL clash between Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Turgut continued: “I originally was just going as a coach last year and it was nice that they wanted me to do that – that’s the Turkish family cultures.

“Just to be in and around the game at an international level would be amazing so it was exciting. I couldn’t go that year but something came up to go this year. I was already fit and back playing so I told them and they asked if I’d be willing to play. ANZAC day? Sydney Cricket Ground? NRL curtain-raiser? I’d have been silly not to!

“I’m immensely proud to represent my Turkish roots. The pride, emotion, belief is something I’ve never seen between a playing group before.

“We arrived at the ground walking to the changing room echoing the Turkish war music through a speaker, it made the hairs on your neck stand up and gave me goosebumps. They have a warrior mindset and were ready for battle.”

Full-time return the goal

Turgut enjoyed being in a full-time environment with Super League clubs Hull and Salford between 2015-19.

He says it is not a dream to return to Super League one day, but more of an ambitious goal for himself.

The proud Turkey international added: “100% I want to get back full-time and carry on where I’d left off – just with a stronger mindset and more resilience this time around.”

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