Repentant Hull KR star Brad Takairangi insists he’s learned from the “biggest mistake” of his life and hopes to play for the club again.
The high-profile Kiwi second-row was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence in April for crashing into a police car as he drove the wrong way on a dual carriageway while drunk. Takairangi was two-and-a-half times over the limit during the collision in Hull early on January 2.
The 33-year-old, who admitted two drink-driving offences, avoided prison but was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, including coaching young rugby players in the city. In his first interview since the infamous incident, Takairangi told Mirror Sport : “It’s definitely the biggest mistake I’ve made in my life.
“That’s not just for myself but my family name, my kids… it’s a big learning curve and I’ve learned a lot of lessons since. I’ve made a lot of changes from there and some of that I hope is change for the better.”
Takairangi, who joined from NRL outfit Parramatta Eels in 2020, was stood down by Rovers for more than two months. But when he did eventually make his return to action at Castleford in mid-May, he agonisingly tore a hamstring chasing Jake Mamo and has not played since.
Takairangi recalled: “I was gutted. I was so keen to finally get back and help the boys, do my thing for the team and repay the club. So to get injured the way I did wasn’t the way I was hoping things went.
“It was very upsetting. Obviously, I was very disappointed at myself. When I got back on the field and it (the court case) was all finished, I was just so keen to repay the club.
“They stuck by me: (owner) Neil Hudgell, Tony (Smith), our coach at the time, and (CEO) Paul (Lakin). They were so good to me and I wanted to repay them. I’m just filthy that I couldn’t do that for them. That was the most disappointing thing.
“But it’s all part and parcel of the game I guess. I knew I’d done it straight away; I’ve had a grade one hammy before but this one felt like I’d been shot. It wasn’t the best looking video clip out there.”
It was feared Takairangi, who is out of contract at the end of the season, would miss the rest of the campaign. But he has revealed he could yet add to his 22 appearances for the Robins.
“I do have a chance,” said the Cook Islands international, who hopes to play in the World Cup this autumn. “But we’ll have to make the finals (play-offs). It’s touch and go.
“My rehab is going really, really well which is great. Jimmy (McDaniel), our rehab person, has been outstanding and has been with all our injured boys. We could have most of the boys back on the field this week. We’re getting troops back and hopefully we can make a push for the semis (play-offs).”
Rovers’ 22-16 comeback win against Toulouse on Thursday meant their top-six hopes are very much alive with five regular games of the season remaining. Meanwhile, the ex-Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast Titans player has thrown himself into his community service.
“It has been awesome,” said Takairangi. “It’s been a bit of a blessing in disguise. I’ve been able to go and help a lot of kids with their footy. I’ve been doing a lot of school clinics, going to lots of local schools around here, every Tuesday and Thursday.
“I’ve helped out on the back pitch here with the womens’ - the Under 13s, 14s, 16s and the women's side - helping with Ben Parker. I just want to put it all behind me but I do find it is a silver lining as coaching is something I want to do when I finish footy or helping give back to the game in some way.”
But Takairangi maintains he has not signed up anywhere for 2023 yet, despite reports saying he could be joining ambitious League 1 outfit Keighley.
“I had a good giggle at that story when it came out,” he said. “I went to watch my brother-in-law, Eddy Pettybourne, play his first game for Keighley and all of a sudden I’d signed there.
“That was a bit of a laugh, that one. I haven’t signed anything for next year but my main focus is getting my hammy right.
“I want to do that right and there’s the World Cup at the end of the year. If I’m not lucky enough to play again for KR, I’ll be aiming for the World Cup.”
