Update on "The Tank"

[shiretiger]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/taniela-tuiaki-still-yet-to-see-significant-support-six-years-after-career-ending-ankle-injury/story-fni3gpz1-1227445631248

**Taniela Tuiaki still yet to see significant support six years after career ending ankle injury**
>
TANIELA Tuiaki is worth a grand.
>
Nothing more, apparently.
>
Four figures is all rugby league can muster for this broken body on a pile of who knows how many?
>
“Players like me, nobody gives a shit,’’ Tuiaki concedes. “We can’t bring anyone through the turnstiles anymore. Can’t make any money for the game.
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“So what do I matter? I’m just a broken down black kid from New Zealand.”
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Speaking with The Daily Telegraph from Darwin, where he now works in a Youth Detention Centre, Tuiaki is discussing life as a man left disabled and forgotten by rugby league.
>
But we told you all this a year ago, remember?

I must say, this article makes me sad and angry at the same time.

If this happened in any other workplace, there would be such an outcry.

What I find disturbing is

“I know Wests Tigers were going to do something, but it never happened

. If true, that is truly disappointing on the clubs behalf.

 

[Peaking]

Not exactly the way to treat the best winger in the clubs history is it?

Very, very disappointing.

I used to love watching him play, the way he played he was just unstoppable. If your reading this Taniela know that i haven't forgotten.

Something needs to be done. The guy deserves better.

 

[tsjonathan]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

 

[Blackpearl]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

 

[tsjonathan]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

_"“Although this week I called my old manager, Martin Tauber. Asked if there’s a way to get funding for this latest operation, given it happened playing NRL.\
\
“He’s told me I have to fill out application forms, so that might be something."_

…

 

[TrueTiger]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

Did you used to follow my playing career Bp,I was pretty awesome I thought…oh hang on you were refering to the Tank...oops my mistake :mrgreen: :laughing:

 

[Yossarian]

I do like the Telegraph running stories like this but not mentioning their parent company owned half the NRL at the time. It's unfortunate but I'm not sure the full story is being presented and as usual the Terror doesn't bother asking WT for their comment. I recall someone on this forum stating he was offered a courier franchise and turned it down?

 

[Blackpearl]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

Did you used to follow my playing career Bp,I was pretty awesome I thought…oh hang on you were refering to the Tank...oops my mistake :mrgreen: :laughing:

sorry mate, i missed your career but there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a rap.

 

[hammertime]

I think a decent part of the problem with guys like Tuiaki and Dwyer is that for 1 or 2 years afterwards, there is still hope with recovery. Then they kind of just fade off into the distance. It's quite different to McKinnon.

I don't think any Tigers supporter would forget those two. Both were the type of players that could have had us in the finals if they weren't struck down in their prime! I hope they both know that.

I really hope these guys get something soon to assist them in the future. God knows us supporters (and other NRL supporters) would do anything to help, but the leadership needs to come from the NRL or Tigers. There certainly isn't a lack of money in the game.

 

[jirskyr]

What I find disturbing is

“I know Wests Tigers were going to do something, but it never happened

. If true, that is truly disappointing on the clubs behalf.

I think there is more to this than meets the eye.

Not that TnT wasn't super unlucky, but there are fundamental medical rehab and workers comp rights that are legislated and cannot be dodged by NRL or any corporation. To the extent which employers continue to support injured workers long-term, that is a very murky area.

From what I recall, Tigers organised a job for TnT with Allied, the logistics mob (and one of our sponsors). Either TnT didn't want or did not work out in that position… someone can verify?

They haven't trotted out the Dwyer story just yet, because he has a job with WT doing the videos, and there is less of a media angle.

What is truly disappointing is that it took paralysis to force the NRL to organise wide-ranging insurance. Not just your TnTs and Dwyers, but guys like Jody Rudd, Jharal Yow Yeh, Adam Ritson, Ben Ross - other career-ending injuries that have often been forgotten. Not all injured players are lucky enough to fall into a media (Johns, Tallis, Beau Ryan) or coaching (Nathan Brown) career.

 

[Tigerdave]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

Not sure about '09, but I reckon we may have won in '10 and '11 if we had him on the field

Massive disappointment that the club hasn't looked after him

Similar can be said about Simon Dwyer

 

[marzie]

Miss this guy :frowning: he was so good to watch He became my favourite player over benji

 

[fairdinkum]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

Not sure about '09, but I reckon we may have won in '10 and '11 if we had him on the field

Massive disappointment that the club hasn't looked after him

Similar can be said about Simon Dwyer

2009 we were charging towards the finals Ala 05'. We were on top of Parra that game until TNT went down. Shot the team to pieces. Once we made the finals who knows what would have happened, its a different ball game. If memory serves me correctly I think we only missed the finals that year by a point. The confidence gained from 2009 after the Johnny Cronk era with a real half pairing in Lui and Benchy certainly set us up for 10' and 11', Imagine a fully fit Dwyer and Tank as well as Rowdy for 10' and 11' alongside Robble, Ellis, Benchy, Fults, Lote, Rhino, Gibbs, Payton and purple patch Ayshford , Jesus H we had a great team those couple of years. What the frack happened?!!

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

gee that's so sad…best winger we ever had

x 2
if the 'tank' had not been injured against parra just before the finals i really believe we would have been premiers that season.
TT was an awesome finisher and great team man.

_"“Although this week I called my old manager, Martin Tauber. Asked if there’s a way to get funding for this latest operation, given it happened playing NRL.\
\
“He’s told me I have to fill out application forms, so that might be something."_

…

I remember when this came up last year with Dwyers case, and there seas talk of benefits for( I think) both of them. Neither happened it's not a good look for both WTs and the NRL.

 

[kiwitiger]

What I find disturbing is

“I know Wests Tigers were going to do something, but it never happened

. If true, that is truly disappointing on the clubs behalf.

I think there is more to this than meets the eye.

Not that TnT wasn't super unlucky, but there are fundamental medical rehab and workers comp rights that are legislated and cannot be dodged by NRL or any corporation. To the extent which employers continue to support injured workers long-term, that is a very murky area.
.
From what I recall, Tigers organised a job for TnT with Allied, the logistics mob (and one of our sponsors). Either TnT didn't want or did not work out in that position… someone can verify?

They haven't trotted out the Dwyer story just yet, because he has a job with WT doing the videos, and there is less of a media angle.

What is truly disappointing is that it took paralysis to force the NRL to organise wide-ranging insurance. Not just your TnTs and Dwyers, but guys like Jody Rudd, Jharal Yow Yeh, Adam Ritson, Ben Ross - other career-ending injuries that have often been forgotten. Not all injured players are lucky enough to fall into a media (Johns, Tallis, Beau Ryan) or coaching (Nathan Brown) career.

From memory he was going to be given a job (maybe small business actually) however his ankle would not hold up to it at the time. I'm pretty sure it involved deliveries.

 

[Abraham]

I seem to recall the club tried to contact him regarding a benefit night or something along those lines, but he ended up staying in NZ for a few years and so nothing eventuated.

I might be wrong but that's what I remember the last time the papers talked about his plight.

Poor of the Tele not to get a comment from the club.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[Tigersmurf]

I seem to recall the club tried to contact him regarding a benefit night or something along those lines, but he ended up staying in NZ for a few years and so nothing eventuated.

I might be wrong but that's what I remember the last time the papers talked about his plight.

Poor of the Tele not to get a comment from the club.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Maybe they contacted the club but no-one was left to take the call!

 

[jadtiger]

Very shabby from the club for not doing a lot more than they did, as a WT supporter i feel ashamed by this .having said that news ltd once again shows what an agenda driven publication it is disgraceful all round

 

[jirskyr]

I seem to recall the club tried to contact him regarding a benefit night or something along those lines, but he ended up staying in NZ for a few years and so nothing eventuated.

I might be wrong but that's what I remember the last time the papers talked about his plight.

Poor of the Tele not to get a comment from the club.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

Maybe they contacted the club but no-one was left to take the call!

No, they are one of those "sources close to the club say" operations.

Unfortunately when DT says this, they actually mean they ran the story a bottle of sauce at Leichhardt hot doggie hot dog man.

 

[cunno]

Great player for the club hope something comes good for him regardless of any history, never too late to help the bloke.