Payten to retire at end of 2011

[innsaneink]

Good onya Toddy

 

[Guest]

I hope Payten can go out a winner this year. He's a had a great and long career and has been one of the more skillful forwards to run around in recent times. Toddy will be missed but never forgotten.

 

[Guest]

PAYTEN UNDERGOES STEM CELL PROGRAM FOR LIFE AFTER FOOTY
By Wayne Cousins
3/06/2011 4:06:56 PM

Todd Payten says the decision to become involved in a pilot stem cell program on his injured left knee was more to do with quality of life than playing rugby league.

Payten will retire at the end of this season after 16 years in the NRL premiership, the last eight years with the Wests Tigers. He has played 253 first grade games – 145 of those for the Wests Tigers.

An ankle injury suffered against the Gold Coast Titans in round 6 led to Payten agreeing to undergo the radical procedure.

“The operation was always on the cards. The doctor talked about it at the start of the year but I was never going to have it done because I would miss plenty of footy. But when I did my ankle, I was going to miss around three weeks anyway so we decided to go ahead with it,’’ Payten explained.

“They took a little bit of fat out and extract the stem cells and injected it into my knee and ankle at the same time. I’m probably one of 14 people to have it done.

“In theory, stem cells can form themselves into any cell in the body so the doctors are hoping it will grow cartilage and other things back that need to be grown inside the knee.

“I’m glad I got it done as the knee was irritating me towards in the middle stages of last season. I had an arthroscope when the season was over and the doctors took so much cartilage out. It is just bone on bone at the moment. It feels pretty good but I won’t know until I run again.”

Payten says an MRI scan six months after the operation will reveal whether the operation was successful. He is hoping to start running again by the end of the month.

“I’m just working really hard on my rehab so I can be ready to go for the back end of the season and help the team make the finals,'' he added.

 

[westTAHger]

Todd, thankyou for giving your all for wests-tigers.
you probably do not realise how important you are to wests-tigers.
here's hpoing you are able to get back on the field, at least just once more this season.
no doubt you will be given a rousing reception, and a very heart felt ovation when you walk off for the last time.

 

[Suzie-Q]

Great Tiger - I hope we send him out with a Bang as we did Mark O'neil.

That would be a fitting way to send Toddy out. :frowning: One of my all time favourite players.

 

[Easy_Tiger]

youll be missed would love to make the gf for the big fella great clubman thanks so much for giving your all for the Tigers…...hope you get 1 last crack in the bigtime toddy......

 

[Blackpearl]

c'mon tigers get toddy that 2011 premiership ring. top player, top bloke and a genuine tigers club man. i really hope the tigers have plans in place for toddy so his experience and footy knowledge is passed onto the young tigers.

onya toddy :sign:

 

[cunno]

I hope the treatment is a success so Todd can take the field again for the WTs before too long.

 

[tigesup]

Good luck Todd. Another great Riverina product.

If he don't get back on paddock we don't win the comp.

Gives us that little extra in attack and defence that no other WestsTigers player can produce.

Best part is he will still be part of the club in retirement.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

It will be sad to see him go. Faithful servant to the club, 250 games, premiership winner. Should have played origin too.
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[jais_tigez]

Come on boys let's send him out the way he deserves, with a premiership coz he is an absolute champion
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[Tigerdave]

thanks Todd for your years of service to the club!

 

[steve-o]

thanks for ur service toddy. ur a dead set legend

 

[happy_tiger]

Good luck Todd in the future Hope the Tigers look after you with a coaching role in the future and you can go on from their . A true champion and hopefully the boys can give you the send off you deserve

 

[tiger_tigers]

that should solve the blair dramas ….toddy would have been on around the 300 k wouldnt he .....
great career toddy .. good luck in the future .....

 

[Demps]

Thanks for the memories.
It's good to see he's not going to struggle through any more seasons, it's clear he's not up to it.
Wish him all the best in his post football career.
xo

 

[jas83]

Thanks for your service over last 8 seasons. Has been a very important player and hopefully can get back on the field and play finals football.

 

[boonboon]

Just wanted to repost the link to BonStokers video of Toddy Highlights - having just watched it I realised how much this year and in the future we (and in we I mean both Tigers and Rugby League fans everywhere) will miss a prop with such skills - it should be something every front rower is taught and encourgaed to do if we want our game to be at its best

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGk8ulWEGPA

Plus their are some moments their that Toddy shows a fair bit of speed (plus a magical fitzy try for all those that miss him)

 

[LCA]

A great club man. Skill to burn and a commitment to doing his best in each game. Todd desreves to be recognised for all the decent things he did for the club. I wish him well in his retirement and I hope the club has plans to use his talents and intelligence to make our club even stronger.

 

[tig_prmz]

Smart decision by a great clubman.