By Jonathan B Geddes

WARRINGAH captain Ben Marr has delivered a heartfelt message to his good mate Wes Thomas, saying he continues to be a massive part of the Rats’ team in their fight to claim back-to-back premiership titles.    

The Rats’ dynamic hooker is currently in Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering a serious central cord syndrome neck injury during last Saturday’s 48-26 Shute Shield loss to Sydney University.

After a tough week, Rats coach Josh Holmes provided Rugby News with a positive update on Thomas’s condition.

“He’s got some movement back in his arms and legs,” Holmes said. “They sat him up in a chair for a little bit. He is slowly getting better, which is good.”

‘ADDED MOTIVATION’

THE Rats pride themselves on being a strong family club, and those close ties have been evident as they support their much-loved teammate.

“Wes is a massive part of this team and always will be – and obviously we’ll have a bit of added motivation to finish the season strongly,” Marr said.

“I’d be lying to say it wasn’t a massive loss and the boys weren’t hurting. It’s a big hit for us, not just as a team, but as a club.

“He played all his Colts with us and has been with us through thick and thin over the past 10 years.
“The best thing we can do is get behind him as much as we can.

“You’ve only got to think about his family and how tough they are doing it at the moment, we’ve got it pretty easy compared to them.”

The rugby community has rallied around last year’s Ken Catchpole Medal winner and his young family with the massive challenges that lie ahead of them.

The Wallabies yesterday sent him a message of support from Japan.

“Some things are bigger than footy,” Marr said. “Obviously we were pretty disappointed with the result (against Uni) and not something we wanted to dish up on Saturday, but most of our attention is making sure Wes is OK and moving on to Gordon (at Chatswood Oval) this weekend.”

SUPPORTING A MATE     

A steady stream of Warringah players has been to visit Thomas in his hospital ward, including Marr and Ben Woollett, who visited him on Thursday.  

“The most important thing is that, all going well, he will make a full recovery. And we’ll do everything we can to help him get back on track,” Marr said.

After last Saturday’s game the skipper went straight to the medical room at Rat Park to check on Thomas before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.

“That is the least I could do, he’s a really good mate of mine,” Marr said.

The pair have been playing together since their first year out of school with Warringah Colts, along with other current Rats’ players Woollett, prop Sateki Latu and halfback Rhett Butler.

LEADERS STAND UP         

THE team got together and discussed their injured mate during Monday evening’s recovery session.

“Josh (Holmes) has been very good giving us updates every day,” Marr said.

At a time when the club needs strong leadership, the coach and his captain have stepped up.     

“We are all equally feeling the pain big time and equally worried about him,” Marr said. “It has taken a bit of a toll on me as it has with everyone – the coaching staff and the playing group.

“The main step is getting him out of hospital and making sure he is OK,” Marr said. “Then once he is willing and able, we’ll definitely try to get him back in and around the boys to some degree because I know all the boys would love that – and he would love that too.”

Holmes said visiting Thomas in hospital has helped the players deal with the situation.

“The boys know he has a long road ahead, but he is on the right side of getting better,” Holmes said.

Marr has been blown away by the support Thomas has received on social media from inside and outside the rugby community.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support him and his family. The link is: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wes-thomas-recovery-support-fund