The Gold Coast Titans, along with the wider rugby league community, are rallying around young player Joseph Pouniu and his family as the youngster recovers from a serious spinal injury.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help Joseph and the Pouniu family as he recovers. You can support the fundraiser here - GoFundMe
Pouniu suffered a spinal cord injury, during a Future Titans U17 rugby league game against the Brisbane Broncos in a pre-season trial on the Gold Coast on Saturday 28 January.
'Joe,' as known by most, was treated on the field by the club doctor and paramedics before being transported to the Princess Alexandra Hospital Emergency Department in Brisbane to treat his spinal injury, where he underwent immediate surgery to stabilise his neck and reattach his c4 and c5 to his spine.
After suffering damage to his spinal cord he now faces an enormous battle to be able to regain movement from the shoulders down.
After 9 days in the intensive care unit Pouniu was moved to the orthopedic trauma unit, where he has started his rehabilitation journey.
He will spend the following month in the trauma unit before moving to the Spinal Ward for extensive rehabilitation.
Titans CEO, Steve Mitchell said the club was supporting Joseph and the Pouniu family on their journey.
"The Titans club, led by our owners Daryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle, along with Chairman Dennis Watt, are behind Joseph and his family the whole way," he said.
“Joseph is a terrific young man, a leader and is a big part of our Future Titans program.
"The injuries that Joseph has sustained are serious and he has a long road ahead but the club will be here to support him.
"The rugby league community is known for how it rallies around its own during hard times and that is what is happening here already.
"The GoFundMe gives another way for the community to support Joseph's recovery and I am sure will be well supported."
Joseph’s family have been advised to expect at least six months in the hospital, as he has a long road to recovery and been told there is a chance he may never walk again.
Whilst that is a possibility, the rugby league community will continue to hope for the best outcome.
You can support Joe and his family via the GoFundMe page here.
