SIMON Dwwyer can now curl his right arm unassisted.
"This time last year, no chance, he says. I had nothing. But now the bending is fairly easy. And next comes weights.
Although I've definitely got some catching up to do."
And for proof … well, let's run you through what comes next.
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Former Wests Tigers player Simon Dwyer is building up his strength once again.
Explaining how after returning that bung limb to its sling, Dwyer grabs a barbell from against the wall of Coogee's CrossFitS gym and with our photographer snapping away starts shifting metal.
First, the clean: 80kg. Then the snatch: 55kg.
Throw in a 140kg dead lift and you start to wonder if it can really be only 18 months since he was still learning to write as a leftie.
"I do a squat too, but it's only 135 kilos," Dwyer says. So that needs work.
"Same with chin ups ? I can get two without assistance but I need to make 10."
And why?
Because despite being permanently disabled by rugby league, Dwyer is now preparing to compete in a series of American CrossFit events for adaptive athletes.
Training daily at his Ingleburn gym CrossFit 565 Dwyer says he is finally lifting for a reason again, while also reviving the "competitive spirit" he thought had disappeared with his NRL career.
Indeed, it will be exactly one year on Friday since Dwyer was outed as rugby league's forgotten man.
The Daily Telegraph revealing on the eve of last year's City-Country game how, since ripping five nerves from his spine in a tackle in 2011, this promising Wests Tigers enforcer had received no compensation from the NRL. No contact from the RLPA, either.
His career was gone. Management too. Even a gig as Wests Tigers video analyst was under threat.
And none of this sat well with Brad Fittler. The NSW Origin great who, having coached Dwyer in the City side during his breakout, and final, season, has kept him on staff every year since.
It was Fittler who insisted Dwyer be helped. Fittler who orchestrated a fundraiser worth $270,000.
Freddy even putting Dwyer in touch with the neurophysics guru, Ken Ware, who is now overseeing his rehabilitation.
"It's like every time I've needed guidance," the 26-year-old says, "Brad has been there."
And so with his pathway pointed out, Dwyer works.
Splitting his time between amazing lifts with that left hand, and the smallest of improvements in his right.
Indeed, of the thousands raised from that Campbelltown tribute night, Dwyer is refusing to spend a cent spent on anything but rehabilitation.
Already he has twice travelled to the Gold Coast for visits with Ware, the Queensland healer who recently featured on 60 Minutes teaching Paralympian John Maclean to walk again.
Using something called tremor therapy, Ware is also now bringing life to that previously limp right elbow.
Assisting with a rehabilitation now wedged between work with newU Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor, City Origin commitments and a growing desire to open his own gym.
And at $10,000 a visit, its movement that doesn't come cheap.
But find us a Dwyer achievement that has?
"First thing Ken told me was 'no promises'," explains this fighter from Macquarie Fields. "But in my two sessions, a week each time, there have been some real improvements.
"They're small but they are definitely there. Certainly enough to give me hope."
_Posted using RoarFEED Android 1.2.3_
"This time last year, no chance, he says. I had nothing. But now the bending is fairly easy. And next comes weights.
Although I've definitely got some catching up to do."
And for proof … well, let's run you through what comes next.
\
\
Former Wests Tigers player Simon Dwyer is building up his strength once again.
Explaining how after returning that bung limb to its sling, Dwyer grabs a barbell from against the wall of Coogee's CrossFitS gym and with our photographer snapping away starts shifting metal.
First, the clean: 80kg. Then the snatch: 55kg.
Throw in a 140kg dead lift and you start to wonder if it can really be only 18 months since he was still learning to write as a leftie.
"I do a squat too, but it's only 135 kilos," Dwyer says. So that needs work.
"Same with chin ups ? I can get two without assistance but I need to make 10."
And why?
Because despite being permanently disabled by rugby league, Dwyer is now preparing to compete in a series of American CrossFit events for adaptive athletes.
Training daily at his Ingleburn gym CrossFit 565 Dwyer says he is finally lifting for a reason again, while also reviving the "competitive spirit" he thought had disappeared with his NRL career.
Indeed, it will be exactly one year on Friday since Dwyer was outed as rugby league's forgotten man.
The Daily Telegraph revealing on the eve of last year's City-Country game how, since ripping five nerves from his spine in a tackle in 2011, this promising Wests Tigers enforcer had received no compensation from the NRL. No contact from the RLPA, either.
His career was gone. Management too. Even a gig as Wests Tigers video analyst was under threat.
And none of this sat well with Brad Fittler. The NSW Origin great who, having coached Dwyer in the City side during his breakout, and final, season, has kept him on staff every year since.
It was Fittler who insisted Dwyer be helped. Fittler who orchestrated a fundraiser worth $270,000.
Freddy even putting Dwyer in touch with the neurophysics guru, Ken Ware, who is now overseeing his rehabilitation.
"It's like every time I've needed guidance," the 26-year-old says, "Brad has been there."
And so with his pathway pointed out, Dwyer works.
Splitting his time between amazing lifts with that left hand, and the smallest of improvements in his right.
Indeed, of the thousands raised from that Campbelltown tribute night, Dwyer is refusing to spend a cent spent on anything but rehabilitation.
Already he has twice travelled to the Gold Coast for visits with Ware, the Queensland healer who recently featured on 60 Minutes teaching Paralympian John Maclean to walk again.
Using something called tremor therapy, Ware is also now bringing life to that previously limp right elbow.
Assisting with a rehabilitation now wedged between work with newU Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor, City Origin commitments and a growing desire to open his own gym.
And at $10,000 a visit, its movement that doesn't come cheap.
But find us a Dwyer achievement that has?
"First thing Ken told me was 'no promises'," explains this fighter from Macquarie Fields. "But in my two sessions, a week each time, there have been some real improvements.
"They're small but they are definitely there. Certainly enough to give me hope."
_Posted using RoarFEED Android 1.2.3_
