[ad_1]
Battered, bruised and needing six operations in a 12-month interval after his gruelling NRL profession, Andrew Fifita says he is an ideal instance of why the gamers’ union is combating for higher medical help for recently-retired gamers.
A brand new medical help fund is likely one of the key battlegrounds for the Rugby League Gamers Affiliation within the stalled collective bargaining settlement negotiations with League Central.
Retired gamers are exempt from staff’ compensation however are given a yr – a timeframe which the RLPA needs to increase – to have corrective surgical procedures lined by the sport.
Within the case of Fifita, who performed almost 300 video games at elite stage, he faces the daunting prospect of six procedures within the area of a yr.
He has already had an osteotomy on his knee in addition to having his nostril reconstructed.
“I’ve obtained 12 months to get it performed, and I really feel like I am speeding to get all of it sorted,” he informed AAP.
“I discover having 12 months is a little bit of a s**t go, however I really feel like that is why it is vital what the RLPA is doing.
“I’ve all the time heard from previous gamers who stated how vital it was to get your physique checked (earlier than retirement) so you will get all of the stuff you want.”
Fifita had thought-about taking part in on in 2023 however an exit medical evaluation at Cronulla prompted him to hold up his boots.
“I wished to scan my complete physique; it made me surprise what else was occurring in my physique,” he stated.
The previous Tongan worldwide should go below the knife for issues along with his wrist, shoulder and elbow and must have a finger fused.
The 12-month window has two implications for the previous Sharks favorite.
If he requires additional surgical procedure past the subsequent yr he will not be lined by the sport.
It has additionally meant that after just lately starting a mentoring position at a college in Sydney’s south he has needed to ebook all of his surgical procedures across the holidays.
He claimed he underestimated how a lot ache he can be in when he agreed to operations on his knee and nostril inside three weeks of one another.
“I actually underplayed it and the way sore I used to be,” stated the 33-year-old.
“Up till I obtained my knee surgical procedure I labored after which obtained it performed simply earlier than Christmas and I used to be bedridden for the entire college holidays.”
Fifita conceded he was one of many extra lucky gamers after having fun with a glittering profession on the elite stage.
And he stated if push got here to shove he would prioritise working over having surgical procedures.
“With my household hat on, my payments aren’t going to pay themselves,” he stated. “My youngsters need to be fed.”
[ad_2]
Source link
