Tigers and NSW teammates rally around Sarah Togatuki after tragic loss of sister ahead of NRLW start
Wests Tigers players and staff rallied around Sarah Togatuki at her sister's funeral on Monday after the beloved NSW Origin forward returned to the care of her NRLW club over the weekend.
The 27-year-old is being heralded for her bravery to play Origin III in Newcastle on Thursday night while dealing with the unspeakable tragedy of suddenly losing her older sister Jean days earlier.
Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley said Togatuki will be given as much time off from club duties as she needs.
'She's loved and supported, what she's had to go through and fronted up last week to play Origin, she's an amazing person,' he said.
'We've got a great wellbeing person at our club, and we're a caring club who care about her. She's brought that respect on herself with her actions and who she is. We'll support and assist her in any way we can.
'Today was option for any of the players to go, and a number of them turned up to show her love and support.'
Togatuki's courage has captured the hearts of the rugby league community, while NSW teammates and close friends have spoken about her inspirational character and the bond they share beyond representative teams heading into the NRLW season, which starts on July 3.
'Grief is a strange thing and they say time heals, but it doesn't. It's always hard to avoid but what Sala has been able to do is rally her community around her and her team around her,' said Canberra captain and close friend Simaima Taufa.
'What we've been able to do is have our arms wide open for her.
'Sala knows that far beyond this game we're bonded, and she can lean on us. She's got a community.
'Moving forward it's just about moving onto our NRLW clubs and making sure we're around her. The great thing about this game is wherever we go, wherever we are, we're all connected.
'That's something that can't be taken away from us. I can't praise Sala enough for her strength. She's the bravest person I know.'
Meanwhile, the Blues celebrated the series win despite losing game three in Newcastle last week, with most players returning to their NRLW clubs to officially begin their pre-season over the weekend.
NRLW trials will kick off over the coming weeks, including the Tigers playing Dragons at Leichhardt Oval on June 22.
'The great thing about NSW is the pathways, the girls are always pushing us for spots, so we have to take what we've learned here and take it back to our NRLW clubs and bring that next person up,' Taufa said.
'This game is far bigger than us.'
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With the scratchings, Joliestar comes into barrier 9, the improving track conditions are ideal, and she is the one to beat. • EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Eagle Farm on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROYAL RANDWICK Race 1: Matima $6-$4.40 Race 2: Engine Room $6-$5, Callistemon $15-$8 Race 3: Changing Colours $8-$5.50, Good Banter $11-$6.50 Race 4: Shropshire Lad $8-$5, Bengal $11-$6.50 including a bet of $1050 e/w at $10/$3.20, Carribean King $15-$8.50 Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $6-$2.80 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $5/$2.10, Rotagilla $15-$6.50, Duvana $26-$11 Race 6: Federer $3.60-$3.50, Oh Diamond Lil $4.60-$3.90 Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.80 with a bet of $2600 at $2.90, Mighty Ulysses $15-$10 Race 8: In Flight $3.50-$3.40, The Novelist $4.60-$4.40, Barber $8-$6.50, Contemporary $15-$10, Kazou $15-$10 Race 9: Whinchat $4.60-$3.80, Accredited $11-$6, Fleetwood $15-$7 Race 10: Gitalong $8-$7, 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$17), South Of India $21-$13 Race 9: Headley Grange firm at $650 after bets of $750 and $700 at those odds, Shadizi $11-$12-$8.50 with a bet of $812 at $9.75), Fleetwood $17-$7.50 and a bet of $135 at $16 Race 10: Gitalong $500 at $8.75, $265 at $8.50, Winning Proposal $14-$7.50 with a bet of $165 at $13, Mabel $41-$20, Welcome Gypsy $23-$15, Not That Easy $81-$26 EAGLE FARM Race 1: Sunrays is firm at $2.95 after bets of $1,000 and $500 at those odds, Providence $5-$4.50 after bets of $500 at $5 twice, $572 at $4.50), Jenni Gone Bonkers $16-$19-$10 Race 2: Pisanello $4.80-$4.65 after bets of $527 at $4.80, $857 at $4.65, Steady Ready $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50, $527 at $4.80 Race 3: Lekvarte $8.25-$7 with bets of $700 at $8.25, $500 at $7 twice, Vivy Air $500 at $8.25, Exotique Miss $14-$8.50, Thalassophile $16-$10 Race 4: Front Page $3.70-$3.30 including a bet of $800 at $3.50, Hidden Wealth $8-$6 with a bet of $2000 at $8.25 Race 5: Winnasedge firms after bets of $1,000 at $3.65, $2,473 at $3.50), Gerringong $6-$4, Coleman $8-$6 Race 6: Transatlantic $7.50-$3.60 after consistent support including bets of $308 at $7.50, $588 at $4.40, $600 at $3.50, Tavs $10-$5.50 after a bet of $222 at $10 Race 7: Joliestar $3.20-$2.30 continues to firm as favourite after bets of $1055 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.35, Giga Kick has also been well supported with bets of $900 at $4.20, $500 at $4.20 twice, $500 at $4.15, $666 at $4, Payline has been backed at odds with bets of $500 at $17, $500 at $16 Race 8: Philia is firm at $4.40 with bets of $2000 and $1,000 at those odds, Pinito $10-$6 with a bet of $286 at $8 Race 9: King Of Thunder is firm at $7.50 after a bet of $500 at those odds, Politely Dun $27-$19 Race 10: Tashi $11-$6 after a $200 bet at $11), Zazou $17-$11 FLEMINGTON Race 1: Goldenstatewarrior remains favourite after a bet of $1,000 at $3.30, Muktamil is pressing for favouritism after bets of $714 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, Samuel Langhorne $8-$5.50 after a bet of $285 at $8, Golden Crusader $23-$7 with bets of $135 at $16, $222 at $10 Race 2: Miss Ole $2.45-$2.20 after bets of $1,382 and $600 at $2.45), Espana $9.50-$5 with a $365 a $6.50, Sonofkirk $9-50-$7 Race 3: Jazz Affair $12-$7 after bets of $180 at $12, $1,000 w/p at $7/$2.45, Dream All Day is firm in betting after a $590 wager at $4.40, Cindy Falls $7.50-$5.50 including a wager of $310 at $7.50, Stylish $7.50-$5 after a $310 bet at $7.50 Race 4: Soft Love $4.40-$3.10 with a bet of $590 at $4.40), One Hard Lady $8-$9-$6 including bets of $285 at $8, $250 at $9, Skipjack $12-$16-$9 after a bet of $135 at $16, Romani Ite Domum $8-$10-$7.50 with a $222 bet at $10, It's A Yes has been backed at odds with a $500 wager at $11 Race 5: Regal Vow $11-$9 Race 6: Detroit City $9-$5 with bets of $250 at $9, $310 at $7.50, Taken $11-$13-$6 after bets of $165 a $13, $285 at $8, King Of Enterprise $8.50-$11-$9.50 including bets of $533 and $500 at $9.25, Narbold $16-$11 with a bet of $135 at $16 Race 7: Liberami firms as favourite after bets of $1,000 a $3.15 and $1,000 at $3.05, Ruakaka Raider has been well backed including a $1,000 w/p at $7.50/$2.50, Euphoric $10-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $222 at $10, Townsend $9.50-$7.50 after a $235 bet at $9.50, Shaiyhar $588 at $10.25, Flash Feeling $41-$20 Race 8: Shockletz $4-$5-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $5 twice, Champagne Jenni $16-$7.50 after bets of $135 at $16, $500 at $9.75, $1,000 w/p at $9/$3.10, Hot Majesty $18-$13 including a $120 wager at $18 Race 9: Marble Nine $8.50-$4.60 • EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, race-by-race tips and analysis for Flemington on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INTERSTATE MAIL Flemington Race 2 No.2 MISS OLE Flemington Race 4 No.4 SOFT LOVE Morphettville Race 3 No.4 THERE GOES MY HERO Morphettville Race 9 No.4 PROVEN CORRECT • Morphettville and Pinjarra tips: $26 chance 'totally overlooked' by market PROVINCIAL MAIL Newcastle Race 2 No.1 BOHEMIAN ART Newcastle Race 8 No.1 RUSH ATTACK • EXPERT TIPS: Greg Polson's race-by-race tips, rated prices for Randwick and Newcastle on Saturday #Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners Originally published as THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets, inside mail for today's racing at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Flemington and more
