NRL star facing a month out after playing with ruptured testicle for 45 minutes

A Warriors star is facing a month on the sideline after ignoring the pain of a ruptured testicle to keep playing for a further 45 minutes.

NZ Herald

New Zealand Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita played over 45 minutes of his team’s loss to the Melbourne Storm on Monday with a ruptured testicle.

After what has been described as one of the toughest performances of the 2022 NRL season, Harris-Tavita has already had surgery for the injury and now faces three to four weeks on the sidelines to recover.

The gruesome injury occurred when fellow teammate Josh Curran’s knee slammed into Harris-Tavita’s groin as they combined to stop Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen scoring in the final minutes of the first half.

Long-time physiotherapist and NRL injury analyst Brien Seeney described Harris-Tavita’s effort to play through the injury as “the toughest effort of 2022” and expected the Warriors star to have been in considerable pain.

Harris-Tavita was a Warrior in the truest sense. NRL Photos

After almost two minutes being attended to on the Warriors’ goal-line, Harris-Tavita re-joined his team’s defensive line and went on to play the full 80 minutes while never missing a tackle in what was a record loss for the club.

Harris-Tavita’s injury is a further setback for the Warriors side ahead of its round eight clash against Canberra on Saturday.

The team had already lost Curran and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to injury, plus prop Aaron Pene to suspension.

With Kodi Nikorima also unavailable after a positive Covid test and off-season signing Ash Taylor out indefinitely, Shaun Johnson is the only fit, established playmaker left.

"It might not be a permanent move LB, the game is starting fast this season and Ryles needs to react to this change. This is a much more mobile pack to compete with the Dragons young pack. This is smart strategy and being agile in their team…"

"I suspect that Williams has been to lock to counter the lack of lateral defence that Pezet doesn' offer, Ryles has recognised the problem and this is immediate answer JDB offers little in cover, hence Williams. Don't be surprised to see JDB used…"

"Problem is in attack, he's mainly a ball distributor and not great in go forward. The new rules mean treasuring the ball more and gaining ground through the middle means Debelin's style may now be defunct.
Id like to see Moretti come in somewhere…"

Replies

Longfin Eel April 29, 2022 at 1:33pm

"ouch"is definitely an understatement here.
Slugg April 29, 2022 at 1:50pm

A ball and all tackle
Kurupt - Your Mums Favourite Thug May 1, 2022 at 4:12am

After my testies rupture I stop playing with it. This kid is sick.
fishbulb May 3, 2022 at 8:08pm

Why play with it for 45 minutes after it ruptured? Surely that's a sign to put it down....

This reply was deleted.