THE MOST INSPIRING
Crooks is taking his lead from injured team-mate’s courage CALL ME KYLIE... BUT NOT ‘FAT DAD’
KYLIE LEULUAI admits he was surprised to discover his illustrious list of achievements has a new addition – “Fat Dad”.
The 42-year-old won Super League six times, the World
Club Challenge and Challenge Cup twice and is the most successful overseas player in Leeds’ history. But the New
Zealander (right) – now a player welfare officer for Warrington Wolves – has been given a dubious new honour.
A team-mate at his veterans rugby union team has secretly added Wilmslow Fat Dads to his club history on Wikipedia.
Leuluai laughed: “It’s funny but I’m quite offended really.
“I think I’ll get it edited. The team, Wilmslow Wolves, doesn’t
BEN CROOKS has revealed how the amazing example set by Mose Masoe has kept his own dark thoughts at bay.
Hull KR winger Crooks feared his season might be over after suffering a neck injury in late February.
It was a frightening reminder of how fragile the occupation can be, coming just weeks after team-mate Masoe’s careerending spine injury.
But Crooks, 26, says he was determined not to wallow in his worries and instead decided to follow Masoe’s lead.
He said: “I wouldn’t even begin to compare my injury to Mose’s because what’s happened to him is beyond anything I have gone through.
“Mose was told at first that he could be in hospital for a full year and they had no idea if he’d be able to walk again or feel his legs.
“But the way he has stayed positive and handled it all is an inspiration. Everyone is absolutely certain that he is making the progress he is making because of his positive attitude.”
Masoe, 31, damaged two vertebrae in his spine while making a routine tackle in a pre-season game. But after being released from hospital in late April, Masoe is now train but we turn up for a game once a month and it’s really enjoyable.”
His three sons are less convinced, however, after years spent watching their dad grace the biggest stages in Super League.
He said: “In our last game before lockdown we were playing on a really boggy field and the two young ones said able to walk unaided for a few steps. Crooks said: “To have turned things around like he has done is remarkable. I am taking that positivity into everything.”
Crooks initially didn’t realise he was badly injured and played on in the 28-8 defeat by Castleford, but scans later showed he had a bulging disc in his neck and may need surgery.
That would have ended his season but Crooks said he immediately vowed to emulate Masoe and take whatever happened on the chin.
He said: “The coaches told me that it was OK to be upset, but I said I wanted to show the attitude set by Mose. If you take a positive mental attitude towards things then anything is possible.
Positive
“It’s a very dark road when you start to think you cannot do this or that, and if anything you convince yourself that you can’t. But if you stay positive you can make a lot of things happen. That is what I’ve tried to do in lockdown.
“The time I’ve had with my wife Beth and baby daughter Aurora has been fantastic.”
Crooks is hopeful his neck has progressed well enough in lockdown for him to avoid surgery.
He said: “If anything lockdown has helped me because I was told to rest and there’s not much else I’ve been able to do.”
Crooks, the son of Hull FC legend Lee Crooks, was in top form before his injury, leading Super League’s tryscoring charts with seven.
He added: “Lockdown has enabled some guys to get over injuries so hopefully we’ll have nearly a fully roster when we come back.” they’d stay in the car rather than watch me. There were only about 10 people watching.”
Leuluai, who retired after Leeds’ 2015 treble-winning season, has been ensuring the Wolves players remain focused in lockdown, staying in good physical and mental health.
He said: “The boys have been training well and using their time wisely.”