Lealiifano’s return lifts team
IT is one of sport’s great feelgood stories but Christian Lealiifano’s imminent comeback at Suncorp Stadium is more than just inspiring for Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. It will make his team better. “You saw it in Singapore,” Larkham said of the Wallaby centre who has won his fight with cancer. “It was 14- all when he came on ( in a June friendly) and we put on 40 points in that last 30 minutes.
“It was a real boost to the side that week and it will be the same if he gets a chance this week. It will increase the confidence of the other players out there.”
Just 11 months after he was diagnosed with leukaemia, Lealiifano is set to make his re- turn to Super Rugby on the Brumbies bench tomorrow night against the Reds.
Reds captain Stephen Moore yesterday called Lealiifano’s return “inspiring”.
“For anyone going through tough times or ill health, it shows if you want something enough and work hard enough you can achieve it,” he said.
“And, of course, he’ll really lift the Brumbies.”