League: Tanielu's career in doubt

Former Junior Kiwis prop Robert Tanielu will be urged to consider a new profession after suffering a serious spinal injury for the second time in four years.

Christchurch-born Tanielu is under observation in a Townsville hospital after being stretchered off Dairy Farmers Stadium in a neck brace during Saturday's NRL match between his North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane.

The Cowboys prop had no feeling in his arms or legs after hitting the elbow of Brisbane wing Scott Minto when attempting to make a tackle.

Scans have cleared the 24-year-old of structural damage to his spine but club doctor Dr Greg Winter said Tanielu still had not regained complete feeling in his hands and feet due to bruising.

"While there's no bone damage it's still a significant injury," Winter told the Townsville Bulletin newspaper.

"It depends how it resolves itself as to whether he's left with any neurological impairment."

Tanielu was expected to be in hospital for an undetermined period of time and Winter suggested it was time he considered a career change.

"I think we'd all encourage him to seriously think about his future playing contact sport," he said.

Tanielu's accident follows a similar injury in August 2002 when he was playing for the Toowoomba Clydesdales, the Broncos feeder club.

Tanielu needed to have bone grafted from his hip on to his neck to repair a bulging disc after he was dropped on his head in a gang tackle.

Doctors then told Tanielu he should not consider playing until 2004.

However, he made his comeback in June 2003 with the Storm's feeder club Brisbane Norths.

Tanielu played six first grade games for the Broncos and Storm before heading north this season. He has played just three times for the Cowboys first-grade side this season.

Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said Tanielu seemed in good spirits given the circumstances.

"Obviously everyone at the club remains optimistic that Robert will make a full recovery but we all need to be patient at the moment and wait for the doctors to learn as much as they can."

- NZPA