HAMILTON and NSW Country centre Shaimus Lautaimi was told six months ago that he was lucky to be able to walk.
The 26-year-old had severely ruptured a disc in his neck in the Hawks’ 70-12 win over Nelson Bay and was fortunate not to have damaged his spinal chord.
But in a remarkable recovery, Lautaimi was yesterday cleared to resume his playing career and could make his comeback for Newcastle at the Country Championship in March.
‘‘It is fantastic news,’’ a delighted Lautaimi told the Herald last night.
‘‘I was always fairly confident, but until you get the OK from the specialist, you are never quite sure.’’
Lautaimi required his C5 and C6 vertebrae to be fused after his chin was pinned to his neck in a tackle.
‘‘Obviously it was pretty scary time but that is behind me now,’’ he said. ‘‘I had a CT scan this week and it showed that the neck had healed well.
‘‘The specialist gave me the go-ahead to play rugby; now it is just a matter of determining when, whether I play for Newcastle, wait for the start of the season with Hamilton or give it a few more months.
‘‘I’m going to see [Dr] Neil Halpin for his opinion, but hopefully I can rip straight in.’’
In a further boost for the Hawks, two-time Anderson Medal winner Va Talaileva has decided to stay at the club.
Talaileva was one of three Hamilton players, alongside second-rower Mark O’Brien and prop Erik Lolohea, who had agreed to join Southern Beaches.
But the Hawks issued a statement yesterday saying that Talaileva had decided to stay put.
‘‘It is true I was approached and held discussions with officials from another local rugby club in which they outlined an offer for me to improve my employment prospects and also continue my passion for rugby, playing at that club,’’ the statement said.
‘‘After weighing the options I have decided to remain with all my friends and teammates at Hamilton Rugby Club.
‘‘It is very clear that this remains the best opportunity for me to pursue my love of rugby, but is also the best opportunity for me to further my career off the field and support my young family.’’
Southern Beaches president Mitch Ostle refuted suggestions that the club had lured Talaileva with an offer of a lucrative job in the mines.
‘‘There was never any job promised,’’ Ostle said.
‘‘We told Va that if his current employer sacked him, which I would find hard to believe if he was a good worker, that we would try and find him some work.
‘‘No players have been offered jobs. We have a few players who we have tried to assist get a job in the mines but there are no promises. You can’t do that these days.’’
O’Brien and Lolohea are expected to stay at Beaches and Ostle, though disappointed not to secure Talaileva, was happy with the players he has on board.
‘‘The boys are training well,’’ Ostle said.
‘‘We have stepped up another level in our professionalism with regards to the resources for our players.
‘‘It is going to be a very exciting year.’’
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