Cronulla and NSW star Blayke Brailey pushed a broken bone in his arm back into place and wanted to return to the field, his teammates have revealed as the hooker heads for scans that may confirm an end to his first State of Origin series.
The 27-year-old Sharks co-captain sustained the injury just 48 hours after making his NSW in the Blues’ extraordinary come-from-behind triumph over Queensland in game one at Accor Stadium.
In a stunning demonstration of toughness and courage, Brailey manipulated a broken bone in one of his arms back into position himself during Cronulla’s 28-22 win over Manly on Friday night, according to his fellow co-captain Cameron McInnes.
“One of the physios said as he walked off, he put the break back in place himself without flinching at all,” said McInnes.
“It’s a painful injury, so he’s a tough man and we’re lucky to have him. But I’m shattered for him.”
McInnes, who was playing his 100th match for the Sharks, described Brailey as “the toughest player I’ve played with, for his size but just for everything”.
Brailey will have his arm assessed on Saturday but the Cronulla lock’s comments appeared to confirm a break.
The injury occurred while he was making a tackle on Manly winger Jason Saab.
Despite the extent of it, he had wanted to resume playing at Ocean Protect Stadium after coming off at the hour mark, his club and NSW teammate Addin Fonua-Blake said.
“You can’t describe how tough he is,” said the front-rower, who made his State of Origin debut alongside Brailey on Wednesday.
“He wanted to go back on and he wanted to continue. I think the coach was saving him from himself, going back out there.”
Brailey has been an ever-present feature of the Cronulla side for the past six seasons, missing only one game in that period in Magic Round this month after sustaining a head knock.
Losing him will be major setback for the Sharks and a blow for Laurie Daley’s NSW team as they seek to wrap up the series in Melbourne next month.
“The way he carries himself, he’s such an ultimate professional and to hurt himself like, I’m shattered for him,” Fonua-Blake said.
“But I know he will do everything to get himself back right and help us at the back end [of the season].”
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said Brailey was dejected but had been eager to back up for his club after the State of Origin thriller.
“Five minutes after Wednesday night he texted me to say ‘I’m sweet, I want to play’. That’s the sort of guy he is. He loves the club and he wanted to play for this bloke,” said Fitzgibbon, referring to McInnes and his milestone match for Cronulla.
Brailey was dynamic off the bench for the Blues, who stormed back from 20 points behind against a 12-man Queensland.
Without him, Daley will have to turn to look elsewhere for the remaining two games of the interstate series.
Wests Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau, who returns from suspension against Canterbury at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, is one option to make an impact as a back-up hooker off the bench.
He played made the last of his four appearances for the Blues in 2023.
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Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.