Paul Whatuira in mental health unit after 'unprovoked' street attacks: Latest

Oct 15 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis said: “Paul and his family have the full medical support of the club available to them at this difficult time and while I appreciate that many questions will be asked from lots of different sources, I would ask that everyone respects the importance in this instance of confidentiality and understands that the club is upholding its duty of care to provide the best possible environment to help Paul.

“No-one from the club will be making any further comment.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Officers arrested a 28-year-old man after reports of two assaults outside premises on St Thomas’ Road in Huddersfield.

“The man was taken into custody and then bailed to undergo a mental health assessment.’’

It is believed Whatuira is now being held at a hospital in Bradford.

Whatuira is the most capped player at the Giants having made 16 appearances for New Zealand.

He signed for Huddersfield from Australian NRL club Wests Tigers at the start of last season.

He has also had spells in the NRL with New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers.

Last season he made 28 appearances and scored 15 tries while this season which has just ended he played 28 times and scored seven tries.

He was in the Giants side that was beaten 25-16 by Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on August 29 and was also in the team beaten by Catalans Dragons in the play-offs in Huddersfield’s last game of the season.

Whatuira did miss two Super League games at Salford on June 26 and Wakefield at home nine days later after complaining of severe headaches.

But he did return to action when scans revealed there were no problems and he featured in nine more games up to the end of the season.

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