February 7, 2025 • 10 mins
It was an unwelcome shock for Warriors fans when the news broke.
In January, captain Tohu Harris informed the team that he would have to retire from NRL permanently due to injury concerns.
He spoke to D’Arcy Waldegrave about the decision in an exclusive interview, the first he’s had since the announcement.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed be Let's have.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
A yarm with Tahou Harris, former Warriors skipper, former key
we epic character, amazing player has had to pull the
pin on his career. It gurns us now to talk
about why, how and what next? Good evening to who mate?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
How's it going?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Just going very very well? I suppose the big questions
how's it going with you? You had to retire from the
game that you love with repeated injuries. Now you sat down,
you're not doing pre season. That's got to be of
a relief surely.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Well, yeah, my rest is certainly appreciating it and being
able to spend this time with the family has been
really nice. It's yeah, the club have been amazing. They've
allowed me the time to spend with family and before
any commitments they need you to do.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So what is your relationship now with the club? You're
plainly not playing. Are you still under contract? You still
have a role within the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yes, I'm still under contract for this year. As part
of the medical retirement, I'm still contracted for this year
and obligated to to fill any obligations that are needed
from the club. So yeah, just waiting to see how
that looks. But you know, they've been amazing. They've allowed
(01:43):
me the time to sort of get settled, spend time
with family before the I guess the busy part of
the year starts.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So in that role, you have a rough idea about
what you would actually like to achieve and put back
to the club. We know how much you love the
Warriors and being involved. Thoughts around what how you must be,
what might be best utilized.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
To whom No, I I've got no idea, to be honest,
that's that's up to like Cam and Webbe to figure out.
I think there's a Yeah, there's probably a balance that
they need to figure out on how to sort of
integrate me in whatever area. So yeah, just waiting to
hear from them and but making them most of the
time that I do have with family, which is.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Very different from normal pre seasons too. The family must
be scratching the head, going who is this old guy
with a beard? What's he doing in our house?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, it's very different this time of the year. Obviously,
with the game being today, I would have been away,
so yeah, it's very different.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
To what we're used to do.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
But I'm really enjoying it, and my body is appreciating it,
my rest is appreciating it. So yeah, it's it's still
going to be an adjustment, but it's you know, it's
I guess because it all happened a while ago. Now
that we've come to terms with it and now we're
sort of just making the most of the time I
(03:05):
have with them.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Before you made that call, how many people who did
you talk to around actually committing to retirement, because I'd
suggest it would have been an extraordinarily difficult thing to do.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Well, It's it's a bit different to sort of retiring normally.
So this sort of got taken out of my hands
a little bit because it's a medical retirement. It was
through the doctor and he deemed it, I guess a
detriment to my health in the long term if I
(03:39):
continue to play and continue to try and manage my
way through the pain and through games. It was a
bit too risky for my long term health in terms
of my rest. So yeah, so the decision sort of
got taken out of my hands, and so, yeah, it
wasn't a situation where sort of talking to a whole
lot of people getting their opinions and on a decision
(04:02):
I had to make it. It was a decision that
wasn't mine.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
How did that come about? Did you sit down with
a doctor at the end of the season saying this
is still hurting, or do they come to you and go,
we think we might better medically retire you. How did
that process evolve?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, that part happened pretty fast. So we had surgery
in the middle of last year and with the full
intent of making full recovery and playing the season, playing
a few more seasons beyond this year, and so came
back to preseason training and the rest of my body
was feeling really fit and strong, and it was just
(04:41):
trying to manage this rest daily and trying to get
through each and every day, and it just wasn't recovering
how we were hoping. And that sort of eventually led
to and this is during constant communication with the medical
staff on how it's going, how we can sort of
strengthen it, all those different things, and it all came
(05:03):
to a head around the Christmas break where, yeah, the doctor,
the season was coming up very fast, and it wasn't
a position that I guess the doc seemed it's safe
for me to try and play live games with it
and continue to push it at training to try and
(05:23):
get it right.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You said you've had time to come to peace with
the decision that was pushed on you to retire. You
get your entire life at Hidio. Now I told who
I'm presuming you would have thought a little bit about it.
You've got commitments this year to the Warriors, but beyond that,
a man who's been involved, Gee, I remember when you
first got picked for the key is at the expense
of Sunny Berl Williams and he came back and you
(05:47):
were out. You've been doing this a long long time,
So to consider your future, what else is Todd Harris
capable of doing? What next? What are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, that's that's sort of because I'm contracted this year
and I've got commitments with the club, but I've still
still got quite a bit of time to figure that out.
So yeah, it's all sort of constantly communicating with my
wife and trying to figure that out and how that
how that could look. But yeah, first and foremost, I've
(06:18):
got to make sure my family's right and and that
I'm fulfilling those my commitments to the club and whatever
they need.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So it's still waiting to hear how that looks like
a complete professional. So who's going to be the new captain?
Tell who? No one's going to tell us. You've got
a rough fight. Who do you like? Who do you
think's got the ear of the players? And what's the
most important thing for the new captain? What's the biggest
consideration do you think?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
To be honest, I've got no idea who it's going
to be. But like the club's in a in an
outstanding position, they've got a number of different options and
it's I guess it all comes down to what where
we think the team needs. You've got Roger theare who
has captained the club and he leads by example, But
whether he wants the job or not, I'm not sure.
(07:05):
But you've got guys like Fish coming in, who's letters country,
who's had the highest, the most amount of success someone
could have in this in this profession. You know Mitch
Barnett who led the team for the second half of
last year, and and you've got a wealth of experience
through there like Dylan Walker, Kirk Cape, well, all these
(07:29):
all these guys like they've got a number of different options. Yeah,
it all comes down to what webe thinks the team
needs and yeah, so that's that's sort of above my
pay grade anyway, So yeah, I'm waiting to find out too.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, you're glad you're not making that decision. Just a
word on the captains. What's the most important part of
being a captain from what you know from your experience
in the role. Primarily, what does a captain have to do?
Not just win the toss?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I think first, like for a captain, first and foremost,
his performance has got to be to a high standard
and consistent, so that so that when when he does speak,
he doesn't have to speak much. But when when he
does speak, people listen because they see the work they
put in, the standards they hold themselves to, and and
(08:24):
that they're performing at the highest level. So I think,
I think that's always got to come first, is the
place performance. So yeah, I think you're looking for someone
who can perform under pressure and can do it week
and week out, and that's and that's right from Monday
through to Sunday, every day of the week. They've got
(08:45):
to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And finally, tahun Always a pleasure. Thanks very much for
joining us here on News Talk THEREB pre season tonight
up against the Sharks. An explosive game, No, yes, unfortunately
can a wee bit of an injury. But from what
you've seen so far, how do you like this this
new look Warrior's side. What do you smile about?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Oh, I'm really excited, like obviously with the new combinations
with Fish coming in, excited to use the halves run
out together. But I think the thing that I want
to see most, I guess is guys like Jacob demitric Aali,
those guys who have had some any in our experience
(09:27):
and they're some of the most talented guys in the team.
But I want to see them take the next step
because I think if they can sort of perform week
in week out to their capabilities, the whole team's performance
is just going to go up another level. So I'm
excited to see what they do. And they've had really
good preseasons, outstanding preseason, so hopefully they can take that
(09:52):
out on the field, take that form to the field.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And on that. We'll let you get on with Seemi retirement.
Looking forward to hearing what your new role is and
I'm sure you are as well. It's that we can
continue our chats. Really appreciate your time to who thinks
for that.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
For more from sports talk, listen live to Newstalk zeb
from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed be Let's have.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
A yarm with Tahou Harris, former Warriors skipper, former key
we epic character, amazing player has had to pull the
pin on his career. It gurns us now to talk
about why, how and what next? Good evening to who mate?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
How's it going?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Just going very very well? I suppose the big questions
how's it going with you? You had to retire from the
game that you love with repeated injuries. Now you sat down,
you're not doing pre season. That's got to be of
a relief surely.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Well, yeah, my rest is certainly appreciating it and being
able to spend this time with the family has been
really nice. It's yeah, the club have been amazing. They've
allowed me the time to spend with family and before
any commitments they need you to do.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So what is your relationship now with the club? You're
plainly not playing. Are you still under contract? You still
have a role within the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yes, I'm still under contract for this year. As part
of the medical retirement, I'm still contracted for this year
and obligated to to fill any obligations that are needed
from the club. So yeah, just waiting to see how
that looks. But you know, they've been amazing. They've allowed
(01:43):
me the time to sort of get settled, spend time
with family before the I guess the busy part of
the year starts.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So in that role, you have a rough idea about
what you would actually like to achieve and put back
to the club. We know how much you love the
Warriors and being involved. Thoughts around what how you must be,
what might be best utilized.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
To whom No, I I've got no idea, to be honest,
that's that's up to like Cam and Webbe to figure out.
I think there's a Yeah, there's probably a balance that
they need to figure out on how to sort of
integrate me in whatever area. So yeah, just waiting to
hear from them and but making them most of the
time that I do have with family, which is.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Very different from normal pre seasons too. The family must
be scratching the head, going who is this old guy
with a beard? What's he doing in our house?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, it's very different this time of the year. Obviously,
with the game being today, I would have been away,
so yeah, it's very different.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
To what we're used to do.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
But I'm really enjoying it, and my body is appreciating it,
my rest is appreciating it. So yeah, it's it's still
going to be an adjustment, but it's you know, it's
I guess because it all happened a while ago. Now
that we've come to terms with it and now we're
sort of just making the most of the time I
(03:05):
have with them.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Before you made that call, how many people who did
you talk to around actually committing to retirement, because I'd
suggest it would have been an extraordinarily difficult thing to do.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Well, It's it's a bit different to sort of retiring normally.
So this sort of got taken out of my hands
a little bit because it's a medical retirement. It was
through the doctor and he deemed it, I guess a
detriment to my health in the long term if I
(03:39):
continue to play and continue to try and manage my
way through the pain and through games. It was a
bit too risky for my long term health in terms
of my rest. So yeah, so the decision sort of
got taken out of my hands, and so, yeah, it
wasn't a situation where sort of talking to a whole
lot of people getting their opinions and on a decision
(04:02):
I had to make it. It was a decision that
wasn't mine.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
How did that come about? Did you sit down with
a doctor at the end of the season saying this
is still hurting, or do they come to you and go,
we think we might better medically retire you. How did
that process evolve?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, that part happened pretty fast. So we had surgery
in the middle of last year and with the full
intent of making full recovery and playing the season, playing
a few more seasons beyond this year, and so came
back to preseason training and the rest of my body
was feeling really fit and strong, and it was just
(04:41):
trying to manage this rest daily and trying to get
through each and every day, and it just wasn't recovering
how we were hoping. And that sort of eventually led
to and this is during constant communication with the medical
staff on how it's going, how we can sort of
strengthen it, all those different things, and it all came
(05:03):
to a head around the Christmas break where, yeah, the doctor,
the season was coming up very fast, and it wasn't
a position that I guess the doc seemed it's safe
for me to try and play live games with it
and continue to push it at training to try and
(05:23):
get it right.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You said you've had time to come to peace with
the decision that was pushed on you to retire. You
get your entire life at Hidio. Now I told who
I'm presuming you would have thought a little bit about it.
You've got commitments this year to the Warriors, but beyond that,
a man who's been involved, Gee, I remember when you
first got picked for the key is at the expense
of Sunny Berl Williams and he came back and you
(05:47):
were out. You've been doing this a long long time,
So to consider your future, what else is Todd Harris
capable of doing? What next? What are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, that's that's sort of because I'm contracted this year
and I've got commitments with the club, but I've still
still got quite a bit of time to figure that out.
So yeah, it's all sort of constantly communicating with my
wife and trying to figure that out and how that
how that could look. But yeah, first and foremost, I've
(06:18):
got to make sure my family's right and and that
I'm fulfilling those my commitments to the club and whatever
they need.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So it's still waiting to hear how that looks like
a complete professional. So who's going to be the new captain?
Tell who? No one's going to tell us. You've got
a rough fight. Who do you like? Who do you
think's got the ear of the players? And what's the
most important thing for the new captain? What's the biggest
consideration do you think?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
To be honest, I've got no idea who it's going
to be. But like the club's in a in an
outstanding position, they've got a number of different options and
it's I guess it all comes down to what where
we think the team needs. You've got Roger theare who
has captained the club and he leads by example, But
whether he wants the job or not, I'm not sure.
(07:05):
But you've got guys like Fish coming in, who's letters country,
who's had the highest, the most amount of success someone
could have in this in this profession. You know Mitch
Barnett who led the team for the second half of
last year, and and you've got a wealth of experience
through there like Dylan Walker, Kirk Cape, well, all these
(07:29):
all these guys like they've got a number of different options. Yeah,
it all comes down to what webe thinks the team
needs and yeah, so that's that's sort of above my
pay grade anyway, So yeah, I'm waiting to find out too.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, you're glad you're not making that decision. Just a
word on the captains. What's the most important part of
being a captain from what you know from your experience
in the role. Primarily, what does a captain have to do?
Not just win the toss?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I think first, like for a captain, first and foremost,
his performance has got to be to a high standard
and consistent, so that so that when when he does speak,
he doesn't have to speak much. But when when he
does speak, people listen because they see the work they
put in, the standards they hold themselves to, and and
(08:24):
that they're performing at the highest level. So I think,
I think that's always got to come first, is the
place performance. So yeah, I think you're looking for someone
who can perform under pressure and can do it week
and week out, and that's and that's right from Monday
through to Sunday, every day of the week. They've got
(08:45):
to be consistent.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And finally, tahun Always a pleasure. Thanks very much for
joining us here on News Talk THEREB pre season tonight
up against the Sharks. An explosive game, No, yes, unfortunately
can a wee bit of an injury. But from what
you've seen so far, how do you like this this
new look Warrior's side. What do you smile about?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Oh, I'm really excited, like obviously with the new combinations
with Fish coming in, excited to use the halves run
out together. But I think the thing that I want
to see most, I guess is guys like Jacob demitric Aali,
those guys who have had some any in our experience
(09:27):
and they're some of the most talented guys in the team.
But I want to see them take the next step
because I think if they can sort of perform week
in week out to their capabilities, the whole team's performance
is just going to go up another level. So I'm
excited to see what they do. And they've had really
good preseasons, outstanding preseason, so hopefully they can take that
(09:52):
out on the field, take that form to the field.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And on that. We'll let you get on with Seemi retirement.
Looking forward to hearing what your new role is and
I'm sure you are as well. It's that we can
continue our chats. Really appreciate your time to who thinks
for that.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
For more from sports talk, listen live to Newstalk zeb
from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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