Andie caps stunning comeback from injury with inaugural 'Dogs award

"I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Ahead of her final match in a season in which she played every NRLW game for the Bulldogs, Andie Robinson has opened up on the most challenging period of her life, which saw a four-month injury turn into 18 months on the sidelines.

Robinson, who will play fullback against the Eels at CommBank Stadium on Friday night, is the inaugural winner of Canterbury's NRLW Player of the Year award. 

A former Under-19s Blues representative, she has been destined for big things since a young age, but a meniscus tear in the 2023 season saw her contemplating whether she would ever return to the field.

"I was out indefinitely, and I didn't have an answer as to when I would be back out," Robinson told ljmpta.com.

"To be back out on the field this year, I'm very grateful to be honest. Every time I take the field I do it with gratitude and it's really good."

Originally set to be sidelined for four months, Robinson's stint in the NRLW casualty ward turned into nearly a year and a half, which saw her miss the entire 2024 season with the Cronulla Sharks.

Admitting it was an extremely challenging time in her life, she credits the physios, but particularly her family and friends, during the rehabilitation period of her knee injury.

"You lose your independence when you're on crutches and in a brace, so I relied heavily on my family," Robinson said."

"Physical exercise is an outlet for me and I obviously didn't have that for a period of time which can be challenging but my teammates were also great.

"They were really supportive and were always there for me when I needed them."

Now free from injury, Robinson has gone on to make a remarkable return to the field this season, which saw her score twice, provide three try assists, make 30 tackle busts and six line-breaks and average 144 running metres per match.

Assisting Moana Courtenay to cross the line for the Bulldogs' first-ever try, she was rewarded for her spectacular season earlier this week with the club's maiden NRLW Player of the Year award.

"It was an opportunity that came up for me. I wanted to play fullback and as the opportunity came up, I felt the club really backed me," Robinson said on her decision to sign with the Belmore-based side.

"I wanted to come and challenge myself and I've loved playing here."

Playing touch football, Rugby Sevens and OzTag growing up, she could have easily gone down the route of one of those sports.

Yet, despite the reservations of her father Clint, who played 52 matches for Balmain between 1987 and 1992, she was entirely focused on playing rugby league from a young age.

"He wasn't very keen on my playing but I'm a very competitive person and I really wanted to play at an elite level," Robinson said.

"I saw my friends playing for the Sharks Tarsha Gale Cup team and I thought that I wanted to give that a god so that's how I've ended up here."