Just two years ago, rugby union star Todd McManus looked the picture of physical health.
But his rugby journey was cut tragically short after the centre fell ill at the age of 23.
McManus was born in Darwin and had a promising future in the sport.
Having excelled as a junior player, he would be scouted by the ACT Brumbies in 2017 and would go on to join their development squad.
The centre would later join the Queanbeyan Whites and worked his way up the ranks before helping the club’s first team win a premiership title in 2022.
Speaking in an interview with NT News, McManus claimed that the achievement was something that ‘no one can ever take from me’.
The centre showed off his ripped physique as he posed for a picture online with several of his team-mates after winning the premiership.
But while visiting the family of his partner Courtney Tamati in Queensland, things took a turn.
The rugby player was rushed to hospital with severe stomach pains but after undergoing tests, doctors told McManus that he had a stomach bug and it was nothing to worry about.
‘I abruptly woke up with 10/10 abdominal pain. I ended up curled up in a ball on the floor moaning in pain. I was rushed to the hospital just to be discharged with ‘severe gastro’,’ McManus posted to social media.
Promising rugby union player Todd McManus (left) was the picture of physical health several years ago
McManus (right) was rushed to hospital with abdominal pains but was told by doctors he had ‘severe gastro’
A year passed but the avid rugby fan was still experiencing symptoms. He was constantly tired and his love for the sport was starting to wane. He added he became uninterested in a lot of things in life.
‘I was referred to a gastroenterologist and had surgery to have a proper look,’ he said.
‘I was in the waiting room to be discharged when my surgeon entered the room and took me into a more private room. ‘He told me they had found a 2cm tumour, removed it and sent it for testing.
‘Three stressful weeks later I was sat down with my partner Courtney and heard the words ‘Todd you have cancer’.’
Life would change quickly for the Darwin native, who subsequently moved back home after he was diagnosed with cancer.
‘Hearing that was another shock to the system, but something I had to take on the chin and deal with,’ he said. ‘That’s what this journey was, it was just never-ending bad news.’
He was 23 years old at the time he began his treatment, with the rugby player undergoing abdominal surgery a month following his diagnosis.
It was later discovered that he had Stage 3 cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes.
‘Hearing that was another shock to the system, but something I had to take on the chin and deal with,’ he said.
‘That’s what this journey was, it was just never-ending bad news.’
But at age 23 his life was turned upside down after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer
Reflecting on undergoing his first round of chemotherapy, McManus claimed he felt like he had ‘woken up from a coma’.
Recounting the horrific side effects, the now 24-year-old said he could not even have a sip of water without it feeling like he had ‘razorblades’ cutting his throat. He added that the feeling made him cry, which he said felt like he had ‘razor blades in my eyes’.
‘The drugs also left me suffering from both constipation and diarrhoea which was just a cruel twist after going through numerous major stomach surgeries,’ he said.
But McManus also revealed to the outlet the effect it had on his mental health, claiming that he was ‘too scared to leave the house’ and didn’t recognise himself.
‘I went from being quite a confident young guy, playing footy, always in the gym, and people would often compliment me about my figure,’ he said.
‘Switching from that to being too scared to go to the shops, too anxious to go anywhere was so difficult personally.’
In December 2023, he took to Instagram to thank all those who had supported him throughout his treatment, posting a picture of himself ringing the bell.
‘WE CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES,’ he wrote on the social media platform. ‘Six rounds of IV Chemotherapy completed. Still have to get through this one and then another 2 rounds of chemo tablets, but this is definitely a milestone worthy of a celebration.
‘It’s been almost 6 months since I heard the words ‘you have cancer’. Since then it’s been close to nothing but bad news and setbacks. I’m finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and today it just got a little brighter.
McManus spoke out on the side effects of going through Chemotherapy, claiming that drinking water felt like a razor blade was cutting his throat
‘Thank you to everyone that has supported me along the way,’ he added, with a ‘heart emoji’.
His mother and partner supported him throughout his treatment, with Courtney, his partner, moving to Darwin to support him.
‘Family was very important to me in pulling through, and I know how difficult it is to have someone in your life go through this,’ he said. ‘They mean more to me than they will ever understand.’
After six months and six rounds of intravenous chemotherapy, McManus posted a picture online ringing the bell in December 2023 on Instagram
He captioned the image thanking everyone who had supported him along the way
McManus said he couldn’t have made it through without the support of his family, posting a picture of his girlfriend and mum
Having now beaten the illness, McManus now has a new outlook on life and has raised almost $20,000 for bowel cancer reasearch.
Cancer Australia estimate that 9.3 per cent of all new cancer diagnosis cases are related to bowel cancer.
They add that over 15,000 people were diagnosed with the illness in 2023.
‘I’m proud of the man this ordeal has made me into,’ he said.
McManus, though, says he is determined to get back out on the rugby field.
‘There’s nothing like playing sports and competing and busting your guts out on the field for your mates. I can’t wait till I’m fit enough to get back out there.’
Top Blokes Foundation 1300 450 850
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 (24 hours)
Kid’s Helpline 1800 55 1800
13YARN 13 92 76
Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636
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