Cleary in May’s corner after horror injury
PENRITH coach Ivan Cleary has reached out to his former charge Tyrone May as the Samoan utility prepares to fight his way back from a horror injury that has ended his World Cup.
May was carried from the field on a stretcher on Saturday night (AEST) with his immediate playing future in doubt after suffering a dislocated hip in Samoa’s embarrassing loss to England.
The hip was put back into place in the early hours of Sunday morning (AEST) and May revealed Cleary was among the first to make contact.
May, now playing with Catalans in the English Super League, has a close relationship with the Cleary family – during grand final week he spoke about how the Penrith coach had been like a father figure to him during the difficult moments of his career.
Now Cleary has offered him support again – the Panthers coach suffered a hip dislocation during his own playing career.
“I know Ivan Cleary did his as well,” May said from his hospital bed. “He rang me after I had done mine. It helps that I am close to him because I can get a good idea of how it is going to affect me.
“I am not allowed to bend at 90 degrees from the hip. I have to learn how to sit down and do stuff like that.
“They say three months but I think that is for everyday people. I need a booster chair to go to the toilet. I need a booster chair to sit down.”
May also plans to thank English centre Kallum Watkins, who was involved in the tackle that led to the injury but then protected him on the ground.
May hopes to stay in camp with the Samoan team, alongside his brother Taylan, for the remainder of the World Cup.