mozgrame
Engorged member
AAP
NRL players from the Warriors have made a poignant return to an Auckland beach which claimed the life of a teammate nearly three years ago.
The Warriors conducted a pre-season training session at Bethells Beach, west of Auckland, for the first time since forward Sonny Fai disappeared on January 4, 2009.
The gifted young player couldn't make it back to shore after helping rescue his brother and four cousins when they encountered difficulties in the surf. Fai's body was never recovered.
Players and staff from the club held a brief ceremony to honour Fai before a training session in the sand hills.
Bethells Beach was a traditional off-season training venue for the club but the Warriors hadn't used it since the Fai tragedy.
A club statement said Warriors stalwart and newly-appointed strength and conditioning coach Ruben Wiki encouraged the players to draw on Fai's spirit if they found themselves in a "dark place" during the gruelling training session.
NRL players from the Warriors have made a poignant return to an Auckland beach which claimed the life of a teammate nearly three years ago.
The Warriors conducted a pre-season training session at Bethells Beach, west of Auckland, for the first time since forward Sonny Fai disappeared on January 4, 2009.
The gifted young player couldn't make it back to shore after helping rescue his brother and four cousins when they encountered difficulties in the surf. Fai's body was never recovered.
Players and staff from the club held a brief ceremony to honour Fai before a training session in the sand hills.
Bethells Beach was a traditional off-season training venue for the club but the Warriors hadn't used it since the Fai tragedy.
A club statement said Warriors stalwart and newly-appointed strength and conditioning coach Ruben Wiki encouraged the players to draw on Fai's spirit if they found themselves in a "dark place" during the gruelling training session.