Tuiaki to call it quits

  • Thread starter Thread starter alien
  • Start date Start date
Devastated!

Not just for our team, but the bloke worked so hard to come back, must be heartbreaking for the guy.

I hope he knows just how much us fans were behind him through it all. He won't be forgotten anytime soon.
 
Very sad and a huge loss.Was developing a huge cult following and added another dimension to our game which as good as Lote is can"t match.
Wish him all the best and hope for a miracle next year.
 
This is from the WT Official site:

Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki has today announced his retirement from rugby league due to a severe right ankle injury.

The powerful winger has not recovered from the injury suffered against Parramatta at the Sydney Football Stadium in round 24 of the 2009 Telstra Premiership season.

The injury sidelined Tuiaki for the entire 2010 season and despite undergoing three operations and receiving expert medical treatment, the ankle has not responded well enough for the former New Zealand Test winger to return to the rigours of the NRL.

One of the most feared wingers in the NRL, Tuiaki scored 42 tries in 78 matches for Wests Tigers. He holds the Club record for most tries in a season, scoring 21 tries in 22 matches in 2009 – the year in which he was named Dally M Winger of the Year.

**“I am very disappointed to finish my career this way. This is a very sad day for me,’’ the quietly spoken Tuiaki said.**
**“When I first suffered the injury, I knew it was bad but I always believed I would return to the playing field for Wests Tigers. I’ve given it my best shot but all the medical advice now confirms that this is not possible."\
\
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wests Tigers. The players are like brothers to me and I have plenty of great memories.\
\
"Wests Tigers have been very good throughout these difficult times and I can’t thank the coaching and medical staff enough for their support and treatment.\
\
“I also would like to thank Wests Tigers fans for their support over the years. I hope I gave them plenty to cheer about. They have been very good to me.”**

Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys has paid tribute to Tuiaki for his work on and off the field.

“Taniela is a very popular person within the Club and he had a huge following amongst our supporters for the way in which he played the game and always engaged with the fans. This cruel injury struck him in his absolute prime and we are all feeling for him,’’ Humphreys said.

“We would like to thank Taniela for making a wonderful contribution to Wests Tigers and wish him all the best in the future.”

The Club has worked with long standing sponsor, Allied Express, to create an immediate employment opportunity which Taniela has gratefully accepted.

Wests Tigers will also look to involve Taniela in various Club activities and events throughout this year and beyond
 
A real shame…..one hates to see a professional sportsman who is really good end their career with injury - especially when they are at their peak....Good Luck for the future TNT....thanks for the great memories!...
 
@Cultured Bogan said:
Devastating news. We all knew it would be a real possibility, but it's no less disappointing.

I hope they monitor him in the slim hope that he may be able to return.
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Yeah I thought the same thing - he's only 28 and who knows what might happen with the pressure off and a break from training. I'm sure the club would never shut the door forever. I think its a thousand to one to happen but stranger things have happened.

I also agree it would be good if he had a chance to be driven around the ground at a home game - the bloke is just massively popular with WT fans so it would be great for him to get a fitting send off.
 
@hammertime said:
One of the most exciting wingers to ever play the game and a great character on and off the field.

It's a very sad day. There's no doubt we would have been in the GF last year with him on the wing. Would have ran over the top of everyone in that last play.

I hope we get the chance to applaud him with a farewell lap of honor in 2011\. He deserves it.

How much does everyone want to CRUSH parramatta this year!?. In that one play they took out one of the best Tiger's wingers ever and knocked us out of the 8\. I hope we fire up and knock them out of the park.
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No point in my retyping this ^^ Says it perfectly.

Good luck to the Tank. You will be missed :frowning:
 
@tcogger said:
Old news…...A no brainer really.
Predicted this months ago ,didn't i TREXX....Cogger
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Using a thread about a forced retirement to talk yourself up.

You sir are truly a douche canoe of the highest order
 
whilst it is very sad for TNT to have to retire, I am very grateful in having the pleasure of watching him play.
if a high light disc of the tries he has scored is produced, I will buy one.
 
I wonder how this works with salary cap.
Are we immedietely relieved of his salary?

Because I would like to see it go towards topping up Lawrence's contract to guarentee him staying.
 
@NJLM78 said:
A big loss to the game and a huge loss to our team.

Good luck and best wishes to him.
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Thats a good call, its probably a bigger loss for the game than it is us. he was agreat player and character. Everyone loved him
 
Really sad to hear the news and I hope Tuiaki continues to play a part at the Tigers in years to come in some form.

The memories of him and his amazing 2008 season will live long in my mind!
 
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