Tyler’s turn to cheer on bro

TYLER and Owen Wright have a sibling relationship so strong and powerful it helps heal, scripts fairytales and produces world titles.

After helping nurse her brother back to health from a brain injury suffered surfing at Pipeline in late 2015, world champion Tyler has revealed the role Owen played in keeping her on track to defend her world title in Hawaii last week.

The 23-year-old tore 70 per cent of her MCL off the bone in a free surfing accident in October, which almost derailed her season.

“I was crying because my knee felt like it was going to fall off,” Wright said at Bondi yesterday.

“He was there, he was like, ‘you have this, it will be OK’. I believed him.”

Wright, 23, who was encouraged to stay in surfing by Owen when she contemplated quitting five years ago, was rewarded for her grit and weeks of painful rehabilitation with her second straight world title at the end of the women’s world tour last week.

But at the start of the season it was Owen hogging the limelight.

Watched by his sister and members of his family, including baby son Vali, Owen returned from 15 months of recovery from a brain bleed sustained in a wipeout, to win the Quiksilver Pro opening event of the World Tour on the Gold Coast.

Wright, back in Sydney yesterday to honour her world title commitments, returns to Hawaii this week to be beside Owen as he competes at the Pipe Masters for the first time since his accident in 2015.

“I don’t stress about it any more,” said Wright, who has watched a video of her brother barrellingng at Pipeline before the potential start of the Billabong Pipe Masters.

“I feel the most stressful bit for me is over. He is so far into his recovery now I don’t have to stress about it.”

“I’m excited to see him surf at Pipe again.”