Nov 12th, 2018

Nov 12th, 2018

One of rugby league’s toughest players of modern times, Quentin Pongia, is fighting a brave battle against cancer.

A hard-as-nails prop in the rugged era of the 1990s, Pongia played 35 times for his native New Zealand and had a long and distinguished decade-long career for the Raiders, Warriors, Roosters and Dragons as well as English club Wigan.

Last year, Manly appointed Pongia as Wellbeing Officer because of the high esteem he is held in by young Indigenous players.

He recently underwent surgery and is fighting the good fight, getting plenty of support from former team mates as well as the Men of League organisation.

“I’m in hospital at the moment recovering from a fairly lengthy operation to remove a tumour from my bowel,” Pongia, aged 48, told Wide World of Sports.

“I’m on the mend now and pray I can overcome this moving forward.”