Giant Tom: I’m due a run of luck after my injury setbacks

Apr 25 2009 by Roy Wright, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOM HEMINGWAY is finally hoping to lose the tag as one of Super League’s unluckiest players.

No-one can doubt the ability of the 22-year-old goalkicking half-back, whose talents have been recognised from a very early age.

But despite being a regular England international at schoolboy level and frequently earning the title of ‘Top Gun’ at national summer camps as the best rugby league player in the country for his age, Hemingway has still not been able to establish himself at Super League level.

Part of that is down to the players at the Giants who have been ahead of him in the half-back pecking order, with the likes of Brad Drew, Chris Thorman, Stanley Gene, Robbie Paul, Luke Robinson and Kevin Brown all on the scene.

But just as significant – if not more so – has been the wretched luck that has continually plagued him.

Had Hemingway not suffered injury after injury during his fledgling professional career, it could have been a completely different story and the Batley-based player could now be one of the game’s leading lights.

Fortunately, Hemingway has been able to stay positive throughout a series of setbacks, which have included major shoulder surgery on more than one occasion, and he is hoping to finally put his nightmare times behind him and establish himself at the top level.

“Throughout my time at the club it’s been the case that every piece of luck I’ve had has been bad luck!” said a philosophical Hemingway.

“It’s obviously made it hard for me, as well as incredibly frustrating.

“Every time I seem to be making progress on the Super League front, I seem to get struck down by injury. It’s not good, I can tell you.

“I don’t know exactly why that is, but my body just hasn’t been up to it over the past few years.