Huddersfield Giant star Paul Whatuira out of mental health unit and back in training

Nov 12 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield Giant star Paul Whatuira out of mental health unit and back in training

Head knocks picked up during earlier games were believed to be the cause.

And Brown is hoping Whatuira’s hospital stay will have helped solve the problem and that one of his star players can successfully resume his playing career.

“Fatz is going well and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to pre-season training,” said Brown.

“It’s obviously been a very difficult time for him and what happened came as a shock to everyone.

“The main thing is that he’s been where he had to go and is now happy with himself.

“He feels he’s recovering well at the moment which is very good and we hope he can move on.”

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.