TOP FIVE PLAYERS TO HAVE BRAVED INJURY IN A RUGBY LEAGUE DECIDER:
* 1. JOHN SATTLER (South Sydney):
Sure, Sattler didn’t carry a broken jaw into the 1970 grand final but he might as well have after suffering the injury in the opening minutes of the clash thanks to a healthy whack from Manly’s John Bucknall. History shows Sattler knocked back medical staff who tried to get him off the field and access his injury, playing the remaining 77 minutes of the decider to help inspire a 23-12 victory at the SCG. Despite the fracture, Sattler was no shrinking violet, finishing with 20 tackles and 29 possessions. Unbelievable stuff.
* 2. COOPER CRONK (Sydney Roosters):
Perhaps the only thing more remarkable than Cronk’s 2018 grand-final display was the Roosters’ ability to keep the full extent of the halfback’s injury secret before kickoff. They announced Cronk had suffered a severe rotator cuff injury. But it was much, much worse. Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner stunned the league community when he let slip in a post-match TV interview after their stirring grand-final win over Melbourne that Cronk had played with a broken shoulder blade. Not that you could tell. Cronk was as influential as ever as the Roosters’ little general, calling plays and directing traffic. He had 18 touches and made nine tackles – not missing one.
* 3. ANDREW JOHNS (Newcastle):
The headline at the time said it all: “HE COULD DIE”. The future Immortal was in serious doubt for the 1997 ARL decider against Manly after opting to play through the preliminary final with broken ribs. If that wasn’t bad enough, a painkilling injection at halftime of the grand-final qualifier had punctured one of his lungs. Taken to hospital after the Knights booked a grand-final showdown against the Sea Eagles, the playmaker was told he was no chance of playing in the decider, prompting the famous headline. History shows Johns not only braved the painful – and depending on who you ask, potentially fatal – injury, he inspired the last-gasp play that set up flyer Darren Albert’s match-winning try.
* 4. CHRIS FLANNERY (Sydney Roosters):
It’s enough to bring tears to a grown man’s eyes. Roosters utility Flannery arguably rivalled Sattler’s bravery when he ran out for the 2004 decider nursing a ruptured testicle. Yes, you read that right. He copped a stray knee in the crown jewels in the preliminary final against North Queensland. However, he didn’t realise the full extent of his injury until he limped in for tests the next morning. He underwent surgery the Monday after the game, seemingly ending any chance for him to play the decider. Yet Flannery made the brave decision to line up against Canterbury in the grand final after medical staff sorted him out with some padding around the affected – and, no doubt, quite tender – area. The Roosters didn’t get up that day, but no one could doubt Flannery’s commitment to the cause.
* 5. SHANE WEBCKE (Brisbane):
Few doubted Webcke’s toughness but the Broncos’ front-rower still surprised many when he ran out for the 2000 decider with a broken arm. By rights, Webcke’s season should have been over when he suffered the fracture weeks ahead of Brisbane’s 2000 title tilt. He was ruled out for two months when he went down with the arm injury, only to return six weeks later to help to inspire the Broncos’ preliminary-final win. Still, Webcke was told by medical staff he had done enough and to rest for the decider. Webcke responded by wearing an arm guard that resembled a goal-post protector and inspiring the Broncos to victory over the Sydney Roosters.
