Wests Tigers centre Keith Lulia made one of the game's most remarkable comebacks after returning from a broken neck in last weekend's trial against Cronulla.
Lulia broke his C5 and C6 vertebrae during his side's 64-6 away loss to the Cowboys last August, raising fears he may never play again. However, renowned spinal specialist Dr Richard Parkinson performed successful surgery, paving the way for the journeyman's successful return at Campbelltown, in which he incident-free stints in both the NSW Cup and NRL Tigers sides.
"I was thinking about giving footy up. I took it into consideration, but it all worked out and here I am," Lulia said.
"I was a bit nervous before the game but I made sure I was ready before I ran out. I did a lot of contact with my neck. It's been over six months since I played and I was excited to put the jersey on. I was happy to get through the game without any niggles and my neck felt fine."
Lulia, who equalled the mark set by Kevin McGuinness and Marika Koroibete when he scored four tries in a game against Canterbury in 2013, is excited about continuing a career that started at St George Illawarra and has also taken him to Newcastle and Bradford. However, he will have a permanent reminder of the incident after having a plate inserted into his neck, as shown in the accompanying photo.
Lulia and wife Kellie feared the worst following the diagnosis.
"I remember exactly how it happened," Lulia recalled. "It wasn't a game to remember for the boys and I got knocked out in the first half and didn't know I broke my neck for the next few days. I came to training and it was still sore. I got sent for a scan and you could see the break.
"It was freaky, all the staff and coaches came into the room and said: 'We've got some news for you - you've broken your neck'.
"I was 'wow, where do we go from here?' But it has all worked out alright."
Under-20 Origin eligibility fix
There will be eligibility changes to this year's NSW under-20s State of Origin fixture to prevent the club-versus-state uproar that marred the previous encounter. The NSWRL was upset when young guns Luke Brooks and Alex Johnston withdrew from the interstate fixture uninjured to instead play for the Tigers and Rabbitohs that weekend. Officials are looking to tweak the rules so that if youngsters play a certain amount of NRL games prior to the fixture - five is currently the number under consideration - they will be exempt from the clash to play club football. The move will take the pressure off NRL coaches to rule out their youngsters from what could be their first representative jersey.
Zappia makes Souths board bid
The man behind the bid to give disenfranchised South Sydney fans a new member's club is running for the board at Sunday's football club elections. Frank Zappia is the sole nominee up against the incumbents on the existing Member Co board, which will be decided at the football AGM at Town Hall. Rabbitohs fans have been without a club to congregate since the Chalmers premises closed down, prompting Zappia to set up a licensed venue on the ground floor of the Quest Hotel, just a short stroll from home ground ANZ Stadium. Supporters of the new Souths Leagues Club have already raised $500,000 and it is hoped the venue will be open in coming months once a further $100,000 required can be raised. The project will go ahead regardless of the election outcome, but Zappia hopes he can make a difference in the boardroom as well.
"Sometimes even the strongest board needs a little bit of new blood," he said.
"I'm prepared to work with the current team of directors. And I'm passionate about providing a place where we cry over, or celebrate with, over a beer. When I was on the Leagues Club board from 2006-08 we owned our building and had cash in the bank. We intend to open a new club for the fans and be in a profitable situation where we can contribute to the football club."
Where are the Bears?
Since their introduction into the league in 2007, the Titans have lurched from one crisis to the next. The NRL had the option to instead hand a licence to the Central Coast Bears, whose bid provided a rusted-on fan base, a purpose-built stadium and the backing of heavy hitter John Singleton. Instead, the Gold Coast were given the nod. It's unlikely league officials would have made the same choice if they had their time again.
Big Sam fighting fit
Big Sam Kasiano isn't quite as big as he used to be. The Canterbury prop still cuts an imposing figure at 132 kilograms but it's a fair way below the 141kg he weighed in at when the pre-season started. The New Zealand forward, who wants to strip a couple more kilos from his frame, is likely to re-sign with the "Family Club" in coming weeks.
Reward for Taukeiaho
If, as expected, young gun Siosiua Taukeiaho makes his Roosters debut next weekend, it will be a reward for persistence. The former Junior Kiwi has played just one NRL game, for the Warriors, after breaking his leg twice in the space of a year. Having shifted to Bondi Junction last season, he was due to get a first-grade call up just as he raced back across the ditch to be at the birth of his first child. The promising forward, who is negotiating a contract extension with the Roosters, is tipped to beat Jackson Hastings and Martin Kennedy for the final bench spot for the opening-round clash against the Cowboys.
Tribute to Rabbitohs
South Sydney's fairytale grand final victory has been chronicled in a new book by historian and life member Brad Ryder. The Rabbitohs' Road to 21, the sequel to Ryder's best-selling They Wear the Red and Green, was officially launched at Souths Juniors on Saturday night. The tome includes a foreword by Rabbitohs diehard Ray Martin.
Guess who's not coming to dinner?
The arrest of Jason Smith on drugs charges has upset people on two continents. Smith was going to head back to his former Super League club Hull as a guest at a testimonial dinner for former Wests Tiger Gareth Ellis.
