By REBECCA WALSH
For the past few weeks Graham King has been hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine at Middlemore Hospital three times a week, but yesterday was different.
The Taranaki grandfather, who has suffered from kidney failure for the past four years, was resting at the Auckland District Kidney Society house in Otahuhu when he received a surprise visit from Auckland Warriors second rower Ali Lauiti'iti.
It is the second time the Warriors player has visited the league-mad family and a beaming Mr King said it was a great honour.
"It's a real surprise. I thank him very much."
Last year Mr King's sister Vicki Robinson underwent major surgery for cancer. Lauiti'iti and team mate Monty Betham dropped in to see her at Green Lane Hospital after her daughter phoned the Warriors' head office, asking if they could help out.
Ms Robinson, who with her partner, John, has a season ticket for the Warriors' games, said she had been feeling really low - but the surprise worked. "It was a big buzz."
Knowing how much the visit had perked her up, Ms Robinson was keen to do the same for her brother.
Mr King, who carries out self-dialysis, travels to Auckland about once a year for hospital treatment. He follows all the Warriors' games, shouting words of wisdom from the couch, but yesterday he was not about to offer Lauiti'iti any advice.
"No, he's doing the hard work."
Nor would he comment on who he thought would win tomorrow night's game against the Canberra Raiders at Ericsson Stadium.
"From what I've seen they're excellent players, all team players. With some pattern maybe they would have won a few more games.
"That's the way rugby league goes. It's a team effort, not a one-man band. "I'll be watching, no two ways about it."
Twenty-year-old Lauiti'iti, who presented Mr King with signed posters of the team, in between filming a television commercial and training, said it was great to meet the family again.
"It's good to get out there to ... meet supporters. This is the best kind of promotional work we can do, to give something back to supporters and the community."
Warrior's visit a top tonic
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