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<big>Ankle injury forces Tuiaki to call it quits</big>
Adrian Proszenko
February 6, 2011
The Tank is out of action … Wests winger Taniela Tuiaki in 2009 before the ankle injury that would end his career. Photo: Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE
TANIELA TUIAKI'S rugby league career is officially over.
The Wests Tigers winger has retired from the NRL after failing to recover from a serious ankle injury.
Advertisement: Story continues below Tuiaki has undergone three operations in a desperate attempt to return to the field but the sickening injury he suffered against Parramatta in round 24 of the 2009 season has proven to be career-ending.
The New Zealand international was at the peak of his powers at the time - he scored 21 tries in 22 games, was named the Dally M winger of the year and lived up to his nickname of ''The Tank'' by being voted by his peers as the most difficult man to tackle in the NRL.
After missing the 2010 season, Tuiaki had hoped to make his comeback this year. However, he realised last week that the end had come.
''It's a real disappointment,'' Tuiaki told The Sun-Herald. ''Last week I was training and running but there was no improvement in the ankle, it wasn't getting better. My leg hasn't got the range back and the calf is really weak. I don't know what else I could have done but it wasn't recovering. I can't keep running, even after all these surgeries - it's not getting better.''
Tuiaki spoke of his frustrations watching the Tigers get to within one win of the grand final in his absence. ''It was very stressful not getting on the park last year and watching the boys play every week,'' he said.
''I couldn't sit in my chair properly, I was always jumping up. I wish I was out there helping the boys. I was looking forward to playing last year with Lote [Tuqiri] coming in to join us. Having him on the flank, to play alongside him, would have been good but it didn't happen.''
Tuiaki, who went from a lower grade club rugby player to a Kiwi and Tongan league representative in the space of three seasons, rated his 2009 season as a career highlight. ''I was scoring tries every week and was right up there for the leading try-scorer. I just missed out because of my injury,'' he said.
''I was Dally M winger of the year. I missed out on the Kiwi Four Nations in 2008 because of injury.
''It was probably my best season to end my career.
''I've now got to think about what I'm going to do away from footy.''
The Tigers have worked closely with Tuiaki to prepare him for life after football. The club has set up work with a longstanding sponsor, courier and express freight firm Allied Express. He will remain involved with the club off the field.
''It's a shame that a cruel injury has cut him down in the prime of his career,'' said Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys. ''He is a very popular member of the club and and we're really feeling for him.''
The 28-year-old thanked the Tigers for all his support and left the door ajar to a possible comeback.
''The club has been really excellent, helping me out with everything,'' he said. ''The coach, players, all the team know what I've been going through. I don't know how to thank them.
''The leg needs a rest for 12 months and maybe there will be some miracle and it will be better.''
Tuiaki factfile
Nickname: TNT, The Tank
Age: 28
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 110kg
Rep: 4 Tests for New Zealand 2007, 2 Tests for Tonga in 2006
NRL Debut: v Warriors, 2006
NRL Career: 78 games, 42 tries, 168 pts.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/ankle-injury-forces-tuiaki-to-call-it-quits-20110205-1ahkq.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Adrian Proszenko
February 6, 2011
The Tank is out of action … Wests winger Taniela Tuiaki in 2009 before the ankle injury that would end his career. Photo: Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE
TANIELA TUIAKI'S rugby league career is officially over.
The Wests Tigers winger has retired from the NRL after failing to recover from a serious ankle injury.
Advertisement: Story continues below Tuiaki has undergone three operations in a desperate attempt to return to the field but the sickening injury he suffered against Parramatta in round 24 of the 2009 season has proven to be career-ending.
The New Zealand international was at the peak of his powers at the time - he scored 21 tries in 22 games, was named the Dally M winger of the year and lived up to his nickname of ''The Tank'' by being voted by his peers as the most difficult man to tackle in the NRL.
After missing the 2010 season, Tuiaki had hoped to make his comeback this year. However, he realised last week that the end had come.
''It's a real disappointment,'' Tuiaki told The Sun-Herald. ''Last week I was training and running but there was no improvement in the ankle, it wasn't getting better. My leg hasn't got the range back and the calf is really weak. I don't know what else I could have done but it wasn't recovering. I can't keep running, even after all these surgeries - it's not getting better.''
Tuiaki spoke of his frustrations watching the Tigers get to within one win of the grand final in his absence. ''It was very stressful not getting on the park last year and watching the boys play every week,'' he said.
''I couldn't sit in my chair properly, I was always jumping up. I wish I was out there helping the boys. I was looking forward to playing last year with Lote [Tuqiri] coming in to join us. Having him on the flank, to play alongside him, would have been good but it didn't happen.''
Tuiaki, who went from a lower grade club rugby player to a Kiwi and Tongan league representative in the space of three seasons, rated his 2009 season as a career highlight. ''I was scoring tries every week and was right up there for the leading try-scorer. I just missed out because of my injury,'' he said.
''I was Dally M winger of the year. I missed out on the Kiwi Four Nations in 2008 because of injury.
''It was probably my best season to end my career.
''I've now got to think about what I'm going to do away from footy.''
The Tigers have worked closely with Tuiaki to prepare him for life after football. The club has set up work with a longstanding sponsor, courier and express freight firm Allied Express. He will remain involved with the club off the field.
''It's a shame that a cruel injury has cut him down in the prime of his career,'' said Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys. ''He is a very popular member of the club and and we're really feeling for him.''
The 28-year-old thanked the Tigers for all his support and left the door ajar to a possible comeback.
''The club has been really excellent, helping me out with everything,'' he said. ''The coach, players, all the team know what I've been going through. I don't know how to thank them.
''The leg needs a rest for 12 months and maybe there will be some miracle and it will be better.''
Tuiaki factfile
Nickname: TNT, The Tank
Age: 28
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 110kg
Rep: 4 Tests for New Zealand 2007, 2 Tests for Tonga in 2006
NRL Debut: v Warriors, 2006
NRL Career: 78 games, 42 tries, 168 pts.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/ankle-injury-forces-tuiaki-to-call-it-quits-20110205-1ahkq.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
