His Brisbane teammates, coach and the club’s staff were all in the crowd cheering on as Broncos winger Jharal Yow Yeh returned to rugby league on Sunday afternoon.

Some 13 months after suffering a horrendous ankle injury, Yow Yeh turned out in the forwards for the Norths Devils in a Queensland Cup game at Brisbane’s Bishop Park.

He had two stints, playing more than 30 minutes, and was so enthusiastic he almost knocked himself out making a tackle which quickly reminded him of how tough the game can be.

“It was a real thrill,” said Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, who along with the club’s medical staff targeted Yow Yeh’s comeback game a month ago.

“I was so nervous for him. The whole team was there, the players, the medical staff, some of our staff.

“He put his body on the line and nearly knocked himself out at one point.”

Griffin said Yow Yeh, who is still a long way short of making an NRL comeback, had been an inspiration to his teammates since suffering his career-threatening ankle injury playing against South Sydney in Perth early in 2012.

“It’s been a long 13 months, he’s come through an awful lot and fought a lot of tough battles along the way,” said Griffin.

“He was a long way short of a gallop but he made it back and it was sensational to see him out playing again.

“I can tell you everyone was holding their breath for him today.”

Griffin said the club’s doctors and physios would assess how Yow Yeh had come through his first game before deciding on their next move.