Storm winger Will Warbrick was \u201cemotional and rattled\u201d when he heard the shock news that teammate Tui Kamikamica had suffered a suspected stroke, but a visit to hospital put him at ease when he heard the veteran prop tell a joke when he walked through the door.<\/p>\n
Melbourne put out a statement on Monday revealing Kamikamica had suffered a medical episode and had subsequently undergone treatment for a suspected stroke.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Fijian stalwart is recovering in hospital, with Warbrick one of several players to have visited him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first found out, I was a bit emotional and rattled,\u201d the winger said, having lived with Kamikamica for a couple of years when he moved to Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have too many details when I found out via a teammate trying to call me in the morning and a lot of messages on my phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I heard the news about it, I went straight to the hospital. Eli Katoa, our team doctor and a few other people close to Tui were there as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter seeing him, the first thing he said to me was a joke, so he was in good spirits in what was a difficult situation for him. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still early days and he\u2019s recovering, but he\u2019s in great care.\u201d<\/p>\n
A club official said Kamikamica was doing \u201creally well\u201d on Tuesday, but there\u2019s no timeline on when he might be able to resume NRL duties. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe doc came in this morning and Tui is apparently doing really well. He\u2019s in good spirits and he\u2019s up walking around and talking, so that\u2019s really positive,\u201d fellow forward Josh King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure of the extent of everything at the moment, but it\u2019s a real positive that at least he\u2019s able to move around and be talking. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the last thing you want to hear on the morning of your day off that one of your players is in hospital with something like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, it\u2019s a timely reminder how precious life is and how you can sometimes take your health for granted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTui is a fit young man, so you\u2019d never think that something like that could happen to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor us after two losses, you probably think how there are other important things in life other than just football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Warbrick explained the decision to leave the Storm to join the Warriors on a three-year deal in 2027.<\/p>\n
The winger said it was a gamble to switch codes after a dominant sevens career and revealed he felt \u201cout of his depth\u201d when he first joined the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was something that I put a lot of thought into and gave it the time it needed,\u201d the former Olympian said, with Warbrick\u2019s partner also from New Zealand. <\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, it was the opportunity to now be able to go back home to New Zealand and be closer to my family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI moved here just under five years ago on my own. We were at the back end of Covid, so we there were a lot of unknowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a great five years and I\u2019ve loved being here, but for me, my family is my priority, so it\u2019s family first and footy second.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Storm is reeling after back-to-back losses and face a daunting trip to Sydney where they\u2019ll take on the unbeaten Panthers who look unstoppable right now. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no better time to test yourself than against Penrith,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the form they\u2019re showing at the moment, there\u2019re back in their dynasty days at the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n