Add Shark-to-be Luke Lewis to the train on squad
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...an-train-on-side/story-e6frexnr-1226472789324
STAR Penrith lock Luke Lewis has made a stunning recovery from thyroid cancer and has been included in Australia's train-on squad for the end-of-season Test against New Zealand.
Lewis, who will join the Sharks next year, received the dreaded cancer diagnosis just last month. He was sent for surgery to remove his thyroid and a lump from his neck, robbing the Panthers stalwart of a Penrith send-off in round 26.
But with the help of hormone pills, Lewis has been slogging it out on the training paddock and will join the Australian train-on squad for the end-of-season Test against New Zealand at Townsville?s Dairy Farmers Stadium on October 13.
Lewis is one of seven players in the train-on squad excused from the Prime Minister?s XIII game against Papua New Guinea on September 23. The others are Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Robbie Farah.
Injuries and end of season surgeries have played havoc with the PM?s XIII team, with the side undergoing a massive overhaul today after six players pulled out.
Jamal Idris, Ben Hannant, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker, Peter Wallace and William Zillman were named yesterday for the September 23 match, but were ruled out today.
Beau Ryan, Wade Graham, Dan Hunt, Martin Kennedy, Matt Ryan and Nathan Stapleton were the new faces named today.
Further players will be added to the VB Kangaroos? train-on squad as teams are eliminated from the finals.
Lewis spoke out on his cancer scare in an exclusive interview with this website last month.
"I hurt my neck in that game (Penrith's 26-18 loss to Wests Tigers on 14 July), and the scans showed a lump on my thyroid," Lewis said. "The doctors wanted to take a biopsy to make sure everything was alright.
"The biopsy came back showing that I had abnormal cells and I needed to see a specialist. They cut some more out and told me it was thyroid cancer.
"From the start it was made clear to me that everything would be okay, that I'd only need tablets and not anything like chemo.
"But I needed to go back and have my thyroid removed, which happened last Monday.
"I've just got to stay on the tablets to make sure my hormone levels are sweet.
"It won't affect my football and I reckon if there was one more week I'd be able to play for Penrith again.
"At the end of the day, it was pretty lucky they found it at all. If I hadn't hurt my neck who knows how long it might have been there before anyone noticed?
"It could have turned out to be something a lot more serious and I'm very thankful it's not."
* Today?s amended PM?s XIII team to take on Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday, September 23: Boyd Darius, Akuila Uate, Michael Jennings, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Lachlan Coote, Scott Prince (c), Aaron Woods, Andrew McCullough, Tim Mannah, Ben Te?o, Feleti Mateo, Wade Graham, Dan Hunt, Martin Kennedy, Josh McGuire, Matthew Ryan, Nathan Stapleton.
* Also in the VB Kangaroos? train-on squad for the end-of-season Test against New Zealand at Townsville?s Dairy Farmers Stadium on October 13, but not named for PM?s XIII game: Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Nate Myles, Luke Lewis and Robbie Farah.
* The following players have withdrawn from the train-on squad due to injury and post-season surgery: Ben Creagh, Brett Morris, Trent Merrin, Beau Scott, Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend, Tim Grant, Bryce Gibbs, Jamal Idris, William Zillman, Ben Hannant, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker and Peter Wallace.
