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I certainly hope not, Im a big Lote fan and his recruitment to the Tigers was a a major boon for us at the time.
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I certainly hope not, Im a big Lote fan and his recruitment to the Tigers was a a major boon for us at the time.
G
Guest
Guest
Injured Tuqiri's return to arms now in the hands of top surgeon
July 8, 2012
David Sygall
THE playing future of dual international Lote Tuqiri rests in the hands of the surgeon who helped save the career of Kiwi international and Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall.
Des Bokor, a vastly experienced orthopaedic surgeon, who specialises in shoulder and elbow surgery, operated on Marshall's troublesome shoulders three times between 2004 and 2006\. Marshall had been faced with the possibility of early retirement after the repeated injuries, but Dr Bokor put the talented playmaker's career back on track.
However, unlike his Tigers teammate, Tuqiri - who turns 33 in September - doesn't have age on his side, nor is he contracted beyond this season. Tuqiri broke his upper arm in Friday night's 32-20 loss to the Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium after colliding with teammate Adam Blair. It was clear he would miss the rest of the season, raising questions about whether it was the last time he would play in the NRL.
Tuqiri had more X-rays yesterday which should provide Bokor with a guide as to how best to manage the recovery. It will depend on the location of the break and how much further displacement occurred after the game and throughout yesterday.
Tuqiri spent Friday night in hospital so he could be given pain relief. He tweeted late on Friday: ''Holed up in Hospital on painkillers! Thanks for all the well wishes.''
A Wests Tigers team official said the early prognosis suggests Tuqiri faces a 10 to 12 week recovery time before he can begin to consider regaining fitness. Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said Tuqiri's playing future would ''sort itself out in the next few weeks''.
''Lote's keen to continue playing, and this would not be a good way for it to end,'' he said. ''I hope that's not the case. We'll just have to work out what we're going to do over the next few weeks or so.''
If anyone can put Tuqiri back on track, it may well be Bokor, who has treated several NRL stars, including Paul Gallen and Jarrod Mullen.
The Tigers official said: ''There are a few different ways [upper arm breaks] can be managed and that will be left up to the surgeon.''
Tuqiri played 99 games for the Broncos before switching to rugby union. He played 63 matches for the Wallabies, including in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. He returned to the NRL in 2010 and signed a three-year deal with the Tigers. He became the first player to return to the code and be picked for Australia when he represented the Kangaroos in the Four Nations in 2010.
Late last month Tuqiri expressed his desire to play beyond this season.
''The body's feeling OK,'' he said. ''I've put seven or eight games together now; last year every time I came back I got injured so it didn't help.''
If Tuqiri needs inspiration, he could call fellow Queenslander Mal Meninga, who suffered four arm fractures in his career but went on to win a premiership with Canberra and captain the Kangaroos.
July 8, 2012
David Sygall
THE playing future of dual international Lote Tuqiri rests in the hands of the surgeon who helped save the career of Kiwi international and Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall.
Des Bokor, a vastly experienced orthopaedic surgeon, who specialises in shoulder and elbow surgery, operated on Marshall's troublesome shoulders three times between 2004 and 2006\. Marshall had been faced with the possibility of early retirement after the repeated injuries, but Dr Bokor put the talented playmaker's career back on track.
However, unlike his Tigers teammate, Tuqiri - who turns 33 in September - doesn't have age on his side, nor is he contracted beyond this season. Tuqiri broke his upper arm in Friday night's 32-20 loss to the Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium after colliding with teammate Adam Blair. It was clear he would miss the rest of the season, raising questions about whether it was the last time he would play in the NRL.
Tuqiri had more X-rays yesterday which should provide Bokor with a guide as to how best to manage the recovery. It will depend on the location of the break and how much further displacement occurred after the game and throughout yesterday.
Tuqiri spent Friday night in hospital so he could be given pain relief. He tweeted late on Friday: ''Holed up in Hospital on painkillers! Thanks for all the well wishes.''
A Wests Tigers team official said the early prognosis suggests Tuqiri faces a 10 to 12 week recovery time before he can begin to consider regaining fitness. Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said Tuqiri's playing future would ''sort itself out in the next few weeks''.
''Lote's keen to continue playing, and this would not be a good way for it to end,'' he said. ''I hope that's not the case. We'll just have to work out what we're going to do over the next few weeks or so.''
If anyone can put Tuqiri back on track, it may well be Bokor, who has treated several NRL stars, including Paul Gallen and Jarrod Mullen.
The Tigers official said: ''There are a few different ways [upper arm breaks] can be managed and that will be left up to the surgeon.''
Tuqiri played 99 games for the Broncos before switching to rugby union. He played 63 matches for the Wallabies, including in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. He returned to the NRL in 2010 and signed a three-year deal with the Tigers. He became the first player to return to the code and be picked for Australia when he represented the Kangaroos in the Four Nations in 2010.
Late last month Tuqiri expressed his desire to play beyond this season.
''The body's feeling OK,'' he said. ''I've put seven or eight games together now; last year every time I came back I got injured so it didn't help.''
If Tuqiri needs inspiration, he could call fellow Queenslander Mal Meninga, who suffered four arm fractures in his career but went on to win a premiership with Canberra and captain the Kangaroos.
westTAHger
Well-known member
the only real question here to ask is, " is playing footy again, really worth the risk of further / possible long term damage.?"
life is too short.
life is too short.
Citizen_Tiger
New member
Lote was on huge money with the ARU and his performances, save for his first season were average. The ARU took the opportunity to offload him after his indiscretions in SA. You could hear the sighs of relief coming from their St Leonards HQ. He landed on his feet with the Tigers deal. 400k should buy you a lot of footballer, one that makes a consistent contribution, week in and week out. You could count Lote's good games on one hand. If he's resigned, I would start having extreme doubts about the front office direction
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