Tigers crumble in face of father's simple thankyou
Brent Read From: The Australian September 21, 2010 12:00AM
**TEARS were shed at Wests Tigers training yesterday.**
The sudden display of emotion following the team's video session had nothing to do with the daunting prospect of facing St George Illawarra in Saturday night's preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.
These tears were shed for the five-year-old boy who has been the inspiration behind the club's late-season charge to the grand final. Lleyton Giles's story has been well-documented but it's worth telling again.
Giles has a terminal liver condition and has been given less than 12 months to live. For the past few months he has been an ever-present fixture at the Tigers. He makes regular appearances at training sessions. He holds court in the dressing sheds after games. For all intents and purposes, he has become a member of the extended team.
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Yesterday, coach Tim Sheens handed the floor to Giles's father Wes. What followed was an inspirational speech in which Giles told the Tigers players they had added months, perhaps even years, to his son's life. Some of the game's hardest men were reduced to tears.
"I looked around the room when his dad was speaking and it was hard not to get a little bit emotional," Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall said. "I looked at a few boys in the room and there were tears. It was awesome, but it was sad to hear at the same time."
Chris Heighington added: "I looked at him and got really emotional. I just looked down. It's a pretty difficult place to be if you're his father."
Not that Wes or Lleyton Giles are looking for sympathy. Wes believes his son has got as much out of his relationship with the Tigers as they have got from him.
"I went up to them after the team meeting and told them what they had done for my young bloke and family," Giles said.
"I am forever in debt to the Tigers. Words can't express what they have done as a whole team. They have been unbelievable. They have treated me like a mate and my son like a little brother.
"If it hasn't put six months on his life I am not here. All he talks about is football. It's unbelievable.
"Every day: 'Who we playing this week? Are we going? Where did they run? Where did St George run?' Benji Marshall rang me Saturday: 'How was last night? How is Lleyton feeling?' None of it is rehearsed.
"We will be forever in debt no matter what happens to the Tigers and no matter what happens to my young bloke."
God willing, Lleyton will be there again on Saturday night. If things go to plan, he will be there the week after when the Tigers play in the grand final. Not that it really matters to this five-year-old.
"At the end of the day they're only footballers but they're heroes to a lot of people," Wes Giles said. "I am a grown man but they're heroes to me. For what they have done for my young fella, it's inspirational and overwhelming.
"I think it's genuine with my young bloke. They care about him. They don't want to use him. It's all about him - it's not about the club. Everything they have done for my young bloke is genuine and that's what makes it so special."
Grand final or not, Giles and his family have already won. So have the Tigers.
"As sick as he is and to be still bubbly and bouncing around and happy, we're only playing a game of footy," Heighington said.
"He's going through the toughest time of his life and so is his family. We're only playing a game of footy. Lleyton is battling bigger issues than anyone in the Wests Tigers' franchise.
"We're just doing what we love and to help someone out the way this club has is a brilliant thing."
😢 😢 :smiley:
Brent Read From: The Australian September 21, 2010 12:00AM
**TEARS were shed at Wests Tigers training yesterday.**
The sudden display of emotion following the team's video session had nothing to do with the daunting prospect of facing St George Illawarra in Saturday night's preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.
These tears were shed for the five-year-old boy who has been the inspiration behind the club's late-season charge to the grand final. Lleyton Giles's story has been well-documented but it's worth telling again.
Giles has a terminal liver condition and has been given less than 12 months to live. For the past few months he has been an ever-present fixture at the Tigers. He makes regular appearances at training sessions. He holds court in the dressing sheds after games. For all intents and purposes, he has become a member of the extended team.
\
\
\
Yesterday, coach Tim Sheens handed the floor to Giles's father Wes. What followed was an inspirational speech in which Giles told the Tigers players they had added months, perhaps even years, to his son's life. Some of the game's hardest men were reduced to tears.
"I looked around the room when his dad was speaking and it was hard not to get a little bit emotional," Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall said. "I looked at a few boys in the room and there were tears. It was awesome, but it was sad to hear at the same time."
Chris Heighington added: "I looked at him and got really emotional. I just looked down. It's a pretty difficult place to be if you're his father."
Not that Wes or Lleyton Giles are looking for sympathy. Wes believes his son has got as much out of his relationship with the Tigers as they have got from him.
"I went up to them after the team meeting and told them what they had done for my young bloke and family," Giles said.
"I am forever in debt to the Tigers. Words can't express what they have done as a whole team. They have been unbelievable. They have treated me like a mate and my son like a little brother.
"If it hasn't put six months on his life I am not here. All he talks about is football. It's unbelievable.
"Every day: 'Who we playing this week? Are we going? Where did they run? Where did St George run?' Benji Marshall rang me Saturday: 'How was last night? How is Lleyton feeling?' None of it is rehearsed.
"We will be forever in debt no matter what happens to the Tigers and no matter what happens to my young bloke."
God willing, Lleyton will be there again on Saturday night. If things go to plan, he will be there the week after when the Tigers play in the grand final. Not that it really matters to this five-year-old.
"At the end of the day they're only footballers but they're heroes to a lot of people," Wes Giles said. "I am a grown man but they're heroes to me. For what they have done for my young fella, it's inspirational and overwhelming.
"I think it's genuine with my young bloke. They care about him. They don't want to use him. It's all about him - it's not about the club. Everything they have done for my young bloke is genuine and that's what makes it so special."
Grand final or not, Giles and his family have already won. So have the Tigers.
"As sick as he is and to be still bubbly and bouncing around and happy, we're only playing a game of footy," Heighington said.
"He's going through the toughest time of his life and so is his family. We're only playing a game of footy. Lleyton is battling bigger issues than anyone in the Wests Tigers' franchise.
"We're just doing what we love and to help someone out the way this club has is a brilliant thing."
😢 😢 :smiley:
