Dwyer won't let his Origin dream fade without a fight
April 20, 2012
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Injury has jeopardised the Tiger's on-field career, but City coach Brad Fittler still wanted him on his team, writes Michael Chammas.
In a perfect world, Simon Dwyer would be playing for a spot in the NSW Origin team on Sunday, not sitting through hours of video as he fulfils his duties as an assistant to City coach Brad Fittler.
This was meant to be his season - the year he would burst on to the representative arena. He was City's best in a losing team in Albury last year, and was earmarked by Blues coach Ricky Stuart as a future Origin player.
Dwyer knew it, too.
''I was striving to make Origin,'' he said. ''I thought I would give it a crack this year. Obviously it didn't happen.''
And according to medical experts, it may never happen. Forget Origin, forget rugby league all together. People are just not meant to recover from the type of debilitating injury he suffered against Canterbury in round 16 last year, which initially paralysed him from the neck down. But don't try telling Dwyer that the dream is over, he believes he can return in time to be part of the City-Country clash next year.
''The doctors aren't too sure about me going back to footy, but doctors have been wrong before,'' he said. ''My dad had gangrene and they said they needed to take his leg off. He said no, he wants to keep it, and now he's walking, running and everything.''
Dwyer, who only last week completed his level one coaching certificate, had his playing contract with the Tigers, which was meant to keep him at the club until the end of 2013, de-registered on the back of medical advice. But just like Fittler, whose initiative has attracted widespread praise, the Tigers deserve plenty of credit for the way they've looked after Dwyer. They recently agreed to a three-year deal with the 23-year-old, appointing him as the Tigers' video analyst.
''It's helpful for Simon to have a bit of financial security, but it's not charity,'' chief executive Stephen Humphreys said. ''He works hard for his money. Everyone's been impressed with how well he's picked that up.''
The thoughtfulness and care of the club hasn't been lost on Dwyer, who recognises just how helpful the club has been during his rehabilitation. ''They could have just cut me off,'' he said. ''Said, 'See you later' and paid me the 25 per cent of my contract.''
The Tigers copped plenty of criticism for offloading Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita last year, but their loyalty to Dwyer cannot be questioned. Coach Tim Sheens visited Dwyer in hospital every day for weeks, before and after his 18-hour operation, and the players have all stuck by him.
Skipper Robbie Farah said he was happier to hear Dwyer appointed as assistant coach than he was for his own selection in the City team. Farah doesn't pretend to understand the type and amount of adversity his former teammate has gone through during the past 10 months, but he couldn't have more respect and admiration for the way he's handled himself.
''I don't think me or anyone else can understand how tough it is for him,'' Farah said. ''To have been on the cusp of Origin selection and one of the best players in the City team, to go from that to having a disabling injury as he's had and get everything he's ever worked towards taken away from you in a split second, it's so hard to imagine. But Simon's got the best attitude, he's so positive, he hasn't let it get him down and he's still believing and working hard, clinging on to the dream of coming back one day.''
It will be another four months before Dwyer can even perform a biceps curl, then another four months before he can start working on the movement of his wrist and hand.
Football isn't the only thing that's been taken from him. He lost 18 kilograms after the operation, buckling a belt has become near impossible, learning to write left-handed has provided its challenges and cutting up steak requires the hand of a willing friend.
Dwyer has set his sights on taking part in the City-Country game next year, and while Farah believes the odds are against him, he refuses to discard someone with his dedication and belief.
''I'd never write him off,'' Farah said. ''The mentality and attitude he's got, you never write off anyone with that sort of will and that sort of drive. The odds are against him, but anyone who believes as strong as he does, they can make anything happen.''
Just like he did on the field last year, he hasn't let Fittler down off it this year. He's been running his eye over video of both the City and Country players, showing the type of commitment that earned him Fittler's man-of-the-match award last year.
''I never anticipated he would play 80 minutes in that game, but we needed people who were reliable, and he was just that,'' Fittler said. ''And he's been exactly the same this week. I've asked for a couple of things and they're there on your doorstep. He's got amazing character.''