(Source: The Courier Mail)
Courted by the Gold Coast Titans at age 16, promising young footballer Joseph Pouniu saw his dreams tragically dashed in an on-field injury that left him paralysed.
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Pouniu will now complete his final year of school at St Eugene College at Burpengary north of Brisbane via talk-to-text technology on his laptop, with his teacher visiting him in the Princess Alexandra Hospital spinal unit once a week.
Inspired by Pouniu’s resilience, journalist Paul Murray has tonight televised his story and has thrown his support behind the Titans’ charity fundraiser event for the young player and his family, with the help of football greats Matty Johns and Gorden Tallis, who have been regular bedside visitors to Pouniu.
“Joseph was heading for big things in rugby league. A 16-year-old, Year 11 kid, close to clinching a big-time NRL contract,” Mr Murray said.
“He had the world at his feet and then it all suddenly ended.
“Fate couldn’t have dealt a much crueller hand but this isn’t just a story of heartbreak and shattered potential. It’s a story of resilience, of unrelenting courage and love, so let’s do something good for a good family, in an unimaginably tough spot.”
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Paul Murray Live – For Joseph will premiere on Thursday 24 August at 9pm AEST on Sky News Australia. Watch on Foxtel (channel 103 and 600) and Sky News Regional or Stream on Flash.
