MUST WATCH: Adam Reynolds can barely move, still pulls off 'the greatest intercept of all time'
Outrageous from the Broncos skipper on 'a wooden leg!'
They say Balmain boys don’t cry, but some couldn’t help themselves at the sight of stricken debutant fullback James Tedesco in the sheds.
Tedesco’s first NRL game – and almost certainly his season – ended after just 30 minutes on Sunday when his left knee buckled without a hand laid on him in Wests Tigers’ golden point win over Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval.
Like Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper at the Rugby World Cup, the 19-year-old was jinking in front of the defensive line when he went down like he’d been taken out by a sniper in the stands.
The standing ovation he got as he was stretchered off was of little comfort as he faces the prospect of season-ending knee reconstruction surgery.
And not even the team’s delirium at Benji Marshall’s extra time winning field goal could gloss over the players’ bitter disappointment for their young colleague.
“Just seeing his reaction in the sheds, he was crying in there and it brought a tear to a few of the boys’ eyes,” said Marshall, himself no stranger to the surgeon’s scalpel in the early days of his career.
“We see him as such a great talent, and he’s fit into the squad well and he’s a really good kid.”
For Sheens it means a rethink on the No.1 jumper he’d already gambled on by giving it to the rookie.
Former Parramatta utility Tom Humble impressed after coming on in his place, while Joel Reddy and Mitch Brown will also come into calculations.
“It’s disappointing for him, a 19-year-old in his very first game,” Sheens said.
“I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade fullback.
“But Robbie Farah did the same thing at the same age and came back stronger. Tim Moltzen has done it and came back stronger. All you can do as a footballer is get on with it.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Outrageous from the Broncos skipper on 'a wooden leg!'
The Wests Tigers threw the ball around like it was a grenade with the final kick sitting up perfectly for Charlie Staines to collect…
It was already going horrendously for Benji Marshall and the Tigers, 22-0 down at the hour mark, when their captain walked off the field.…
Samuela Fainu thought he pulled off a great tackle on Corey Oates, the problem was he was running for a quick restart, instead, he…
Api Koroisau thought he slammed the ball down for a try but on review, the bunker said there was separation and ruled no try.…
Deine Mariner had a shocker dropping the last pass with the line open, but he made up for it moments later with a diving…