redemption
New member
from AAP:
Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui has left an off-season of drama behind and says welcoming a baby boy will be the perfect way to begin a new NRL campaign.
One of the finds of 2010, Lui is still facing a number of charges against his pregnant partner, Taleah Rae Backo.
But, after having his bail conditions changed late last year to allow contact with Backo, with the pair expecting a boy within the next month, the 21-year-old is optimistic about 2011.
"I'm looking forward to it," he told AAP from the club's Community Carnival rugby league clinic at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
"(The baby's) going to be something different in three weeks' time but I can't wait.
"It's going to be a good way to start the season."
Lui helped the Tigers to third on the NRL ladder in 2010 with some sparkling form that, at the time, he also put down to impending fatherhood.
"Last year I said I'm having a baby so I want to go better in my footy career and that's what I want to do this year," he said.
"It's a bigger responsibility being a father.
"I've talked to guys like Toddy Payten and Gareth Ellis and Bryce Gibbs because they've all got little kids and they've helped me heaps."
**Lui had faced nine charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choking and aggravated robbery, but the most serious have been withdrawn ahead of his next appearance in court on April 13.**
He turned himself in to police last September after the Tigers were knocked out of the NRL finals in the second last week by eventual premiers St George Illawarra and was stood down by his club.
He returned to training in November after his bail conditions were changed and was then named in Queensland's emerging State of Origin squad the following month.
His focus now will be on building a lethal combination with Golden Boot winner Benji Marshall.
"We've had a chat about the key positions," Lui said.
"(Coach Tim Sheens) just wants me tobuild on what I did last year.
"I've grown in confidence and I've grown better along with the boys, knowing my role with the team and with Benji and (hooker) Robbie (Farah).
"We'll be more hungry to go one better and we're just going to go hard from round one.
"We finally got back into the finals (for the first time since 2005) and expectation now from everyone is to go one better.
"From ourselves, we know we can go one better."
Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui has left an off-season of drama behind and says welcoming a baby boy will be the perfect way to begin a new NRL campaign.
One of the finds of 2010, Lui is still facing a number of charges against his pregnant partner, Taleah Rae Backo.
But, after having his bail conditions changed late last year to allow contact with Backo, with the pair expecting a boy within the next month, the 21-year-old is optimistic about 2011.
"I'm looking forward to it," he told AAP from the club's Community Carnival rugby league clinic at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
"(The baby's) going to be something different in three weeks' time but I can't wait.
"It's going to be a good way to start the season."
Lui helped the Tigers to third on the NRL ladder in 2010 with some sparkling form that, at the time, he also put down to impending fatherhood.
"Last year I said I'm having a baby so I want to go better in my footy career and that's what I want to do this year," he said.
"It's a bigger responsibility being a father.
"I've talked to guys like Toddy Payten and Gareth Ellis and Bryce Gibbs because they've all got little kids and they've helped me heaps."
**Lui had faced nine charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choking and aggravated robbery, but the most serious have been withdrawn ahead of his next appearance in court on April 13.**
He turned himself in to police last September after the Tigers were knocked out of the NRL finals in the second last week by eventual premiers St George Illawarra and was stood down by his club.
He returned to training in November after his bail conditions were changed and was then named in Queensland's emerging State of Origin squad the following month.
His focus now will be on building a lethal combination with Golden Boot winner Benji Marshall.
"We've had a chat about the key positions," Lui said.
"(Coach Tim Sheens) just wants me tobuild on what I did last year.
"I've grown in confidence and I've grown better along with the boys, knowing my role with the team and with Benji and (hooker) Robbie (Farah).
"We'll be more hungry to go one better and we're just going to go hard from round one.
"We finally got back into the finals (for the first time since 2005) and expectation now from everyone is to go one better.
"From ourselves, we know we can go one better."
