Jonah Lomu: Super Athlete, rugby legend dies aged 40 [1]
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 - 16:52. Updated on Monday, February 29, 2016 - 11:03.
“There will be no other Jonah Lomu – he was a Super Athlete...one of kind!,” said Tongan rugby coach Mana ‘Otai, after learning of the death of Jonah Lomu aged 40, in New Zealand today.
The rugby legend died unexpectedly this morning, the day after returning home from a trip to the United Kingdom with his family, where he was a spokesman for Heineken during the Rugby World Cup.
It is understood that he was stiil suffering from the rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome. He had a kidney transplant in 2004 but his body rejected the replacement organ in 2011. To keep Jonah alive, dialysis was required four times a week for six hours at a time.
At the Tonga Rugby Union office in Nuku’alofa, they were coming to terms with the “shock” and loss of the man who became Tonga’s greatest sporting ambassador and legend.
“It is good that everyone knew him not just as an All Black but as a Tongan,” said Mana.
“For me personally, as a player - they said he was a freak, I would probably say he is a Super Athlete in that regard.
“He is one of a kind, that’s all I can say. We have seen many good players in the professional arena, but I still think that the one who stands out was Jonah. Just the athlete that he was, I guess that’s really it, and people still talk about him today even that many years afterward. I feel very sad, yeah.”
Gifted
Mana paid tribute to Jonah and recognised his great achievements in sport.
“I think there will be no other Jonah Lomu, even among the young players compared to him, he wasn’t just a rugby player, he was a sprinter, he was gifted in many ways,” said Mana, who coached the ‘Ikale Tahi team for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Mana believed that Jonah held up the flag for Tongan rugby players to show what can be done with the development of skills.
“Absolutely, he was certainly the flag bearer and now we are seeing the second generation of Tongans coming though the national provincial competitions and into Super Rugby and worldwide.
“My first thought was for Tonga to show their appreciation for his contribution as a Tongan - not necessarily as an All Black but also as a Tongan to the wider rugby,”
Mana said he wants to organize a representation at Jonah’s funeral from Tonga, including some ‘Ikale Tahi players from the World Cup team. “We normally turn up in black, as customary, but turning up in our no. 1 red blazer would certainly highlight the fact from Tonga rugby,” he said.
All Blacks
The 1.96 m (6ft 5in) Jonah made his test debut in 1994 against Franch in Christchurch. He had 63 caps for the All Blacks.
He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He had a huge impact on the game. He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011.
Lomu was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours list on 4 June 2007.
His parents emmigrated from Tonga to New Zealand, where Jonah was born on 12 May 1975. He attended Wesley college in Auckland.
He is survived by his third wife Nadine, and two sons, Brayley (6) and Dhyreille (5).