AUCKLAND, 11 February 2004 — At the peak of his powers he was reverently called a freak of nature, but now nature has cruelly turned on Jonah Lomu, the gargantuan All Blacks wing, who faces a life in a wheelchair if he does not get a kidney transplant.

Blessed with the power of an elephant and the speed of a panther, Lomu struck fear in those he faced at the height of his career, became the most marketable face of the sport worldwide, and was reputedly the sports wealthiest player as sponsors lined up with multimillion-dollar deals.

But, off the field this rugby phenomenon has been unable to beat a rare kidney disorder which is attacking his body — and the 125 kilogram, 1.96 meter All Black who could run 100 meters in 10.8 seconds can now barely walk.

“The specialists I have spoken to say the only way I can reverse the problem that I have is to actually get a transplant,” he said.

After being diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in 1996, Lomu sidestepped talk of a kidney transplant, believing it would curtail his career. He continued playing for the All Blacks and starred in the 1999 World Cup just as he had four years earlier, but in 2002, a year before a third World Cup campaign, his health took a turn for the worse.

Less than a year later the nerve problem in his lower legs, related to his dialysis treatment, had reduced the 28-year-old’s movement to a painful shuffle.

“When you sit down with a nerve specialist and he says to you that you run the possibility of not walking again, it gives you an idea of what you’re coming up against.”

But the scorer of 37 tries in 63 Tests from 1994-2002 remains adamant he wants to play rugby again.

“You’ve got to finish on your own terms... I’ve always said that I’ve got unfinished business that I’ve got to finish.”

Meanwhile, number of New Zealanders came forward yesterday to offer one of their kidneys to stricken rugby star Jonah Lomu after he revealed he needed a transplant or risked losing the ability to walk.

But Lomu, who is suffering a rare kidney disease, has turned down all offers and does not expect any favors because of his status, his manager Phil Kingsley-Jones said.

“He is very thoughtful ... Jonah’s own ethics would not allow him to jump the queue,” he said, without specifying how many offers had been received.The giant All Blacks winger was told of the possibility of kidney failure just before the 1995 World Cup but went on to play another seven years of top level rugby.