RIP Sean Wainui
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Comments by Colin Cooper.
Wainui was not the quickest winger in elite rugby but never let the side down, Cooper said.
“High balls that went his way, we knew he'd catch them. You'd see him making big tackles – tackles that were important – and he was always very secure because he worked hard.
“He knew he didn't have top pace, so he relied on his aerobic ability. He could come off his wing and do extra work.
“That's why we loved him as coaches, because we trusted him.“There were better players with more speed and agility, but he had the trust of the team.”
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A tribute to a fallen Chief
Tony Johnson pays tribute to fallen Chiefs and Maori All Blacks player Sean Wainui.
Tony Johnson spoke well in this.
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Even sadder news. Not gonna lie I heard some whispers but didn't give anything to them and won't comment on what I heard. I will say that this makes this harder for everyone involved and if you're feeling down and out to talk to someone you trust and get the help you need, easier said than done but once you get over the hurdle you will get better.
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@yeetyaah I've heard rumours, too, and I agree with you. All I'll say is that I feel even more sorry for his wife and children, if it's true.
I hope the media show some respect and keep their distance. This is not "material" for another clickbait story.
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This thread just got a lot sadder, i hate the black dog as it has had a massive impact in my family, you just never know who it is really impacting as some can really hide things outwardly well, even if they are hurting inside. I really feel for that family right now and hope their friends and extended family continue to rally around them as nothing will feel like it is making sense.
If this does prove true, I just hope as mentioned it is treated with respect.
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@snollygoster said in RIP Sean Wainui:
This is no ones business but the family and close friends to be honest. Shame on you for this story Herald.
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The Herald (and I understand other news outlets) were sent multiple screenshots of social media comments/DMs about the cause of death. No doubt there were plenty of other people on here who had heard the rumours too (I'd heard it from 3 different sources).
The media is really in a no win situation on this:
- don't report on the suspected cause of death (they did it the appropriate way by seeking a statement from the coroner) and they get accused of covering up the cause of death
- do report on it and get told it's nobody's business despite multiple people sending them screenshots of people who would be likely to know discussing his suspected suicide.
And frankly, considering the Givealittle page has raised almost $300k, I'd suggest the cause of death is newsworthy. To be very cold (which I can be at times), I wonder if absolutely everyone who donated would have donated if they were aware it wasn't an "accident" per se. Again, I can't begin to understand the battles potentially going on his head but just offering a different perspective.
Waiting to be cancelled in 3... 2... 1...
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@smudge Settle down Dave.
On the givealittle, would people be less likely to give, considering it's for the family, if it was suicide as opposed to an accident? Actually, to answer my own question I assume some would feel that way, not sure of the numbers though.
But yeah, I think the cause of death of a public figure would have to be considered newsworthy.
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@smudge said in RIP Sean Wainui:
The Herald (and I understand other news outlets) were sent multiple screenshots of social media comments/DMs about the cause of death. No doubt there were plenty of other people on here who had heard the rumours too (I'd heard it from 3 different sources).
The media is really in a no win situation on this:
- don't report on the suspected cause of death (they did it the appropriate way by seeking a statement from the coroner) and they get accused of covering up the cause of death
- do report on it and get told it's nobody's business despite multiple people sending them screenshots of people who would be likely to know discussing his suspected suicide.
And frankly, considering the Givealittle page has raised almost $300k, I'd suggest the cause of death is newsworthy. To be very cold (which I can be at times), I wonder if absolutely everyone who donated would have donated if they were aware it wasn't an "accident" per se. Again, I can't begin to understand the battles potentially going on his head but just offering a different perspective.
Waiting to be cancelled in 3... 2... 1...
Fair.
The other thing the Herald could have done, as has been done before given the way the media traditionally reports suicide, is not get into the cause of death side of it and still post links to all the helplines etc.
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@nepia I can't say I've seen many news stories about suspected suicides (with a link to a Givealittle page), but that's partially due to the nature/rules of reporting on suicides in NZ. I'm all for opening up the conversation on mental health so I think it's necessary for the suspected cause of death to be updated, even if people find it distasteful.
Personally I find Givealittle pages a bit icky at the best of times especially when this one was set up by the Chiefs, a pro rugby organisation no less. I see NZRPA put out a statement mourning his passing but where are they in this? I wonder if they've donated/contributed in some capacity.
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@smudge I was assuming the Chiefs set it up for the family, as you don't really want them to have to do it themselves. But yeah, agree on the ickiness of them, but as long as the money goes to benefit kids etc then I think they have a place.
Actually now you mention the lack of stories on suspected suicides then maybe @MN5 is right, and the Herald should have done the usual saying it without saying it that @shark mentioned.
I'm now all over the show with my thoughts on this now, all I know is that it's sad for the family either way.
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@nepia said in RIP Sean Wainui:
@smudge I was assuming the Chiefs set it up for the family, as you don't really want them to have to do it themselves. But yeah, agree on the ickiness of them, but as long as the money goes to benefit kids etc then I think they have a place.
Actually now you mention the lack of stories on suspected suicides then maybe @__MN5__ is right, and the Herald should have done the usual saying it without saying it that @shark mentioned.
I'm now all over the show with my thoughts on this now, all I know is that it's sad for the family either way.
Well you do know what they say about broken clocks
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@nepia said in RIP Sean Wainui:
@smudge I was assuming the Chiefs set it up for the family, as you don't really want them to have to do it themselves. But yeah, agree on the ickiness of them, but as long as the money goes to benefit kids etc then I think they have a place.
Actually now you mention the lack of stories on suspected suicides then maybe @MN5 is right, and the Herald should have done the usual saying it without saying it that @shark mentioned.
I'm now all over the show with my thoughts on this now, all I know is that it's sad for the family either way.
Problem with that approach is it was already reported as a single car crash so it would require some literary gymnastics from the reporter to update the story while slotting in the contact details for support and would leave more questions than answers.
The rules have been relaxed slightly in recent years, in that it can be reported as a suspected suicide but no mention of the manner of the suicide (which is why the Coroner has suppressed further details about the crash).
Rugby star Sean Wainui's death investigated as 'suspected suicide': Coroner
