Fielden suffered a knee injury in the warm-up game against Newcastle

The 27-year-old Wigan prop lost his mother Marylyn to liver cancer on the eve of the Lions' departure for Australia a month ago.

"We persuaded Stuart to go because that's what she would have wanted," said Fielden's brother Jamie.

"He has still to come to terms with it in his head."

Fielden became the sport's most expensive player following his �450,000 move from Bradford to Wigan this summer.

He suffered a knee injury in Great Britain's warm-up match in Newcastle and took a blow to the face from Kangaroo forward Willie Mason during the 23-12 win over Australia in Sydney at the weekend.

I'm the proudest brother in the world Stuart Fielden's brother Jamie

And Jamie Fielden revealed that Stuart contemplated withdrawing from the trip.

"Mum and Stuart were very close, as were the rest of us," he said. "She went to watch every single game he played.

"When he found out about her illness he had planned to take mum and her friend to Australia to watch the games, but she deteriorated at such a rapid rate.

"It all happened very quickly and it hit Stuart hard, he is doing it tough at the moment but he will bounce back.

"He just needs time. He might need to miss this next game against the Kiwis to get over his knee injury and get his head right.

"I speak to him all the time and I love him to death. I'm the proudest brother in the world."