TOP 10 UNUSUAL INJURIES

Robbie Kearns ©Action Photographics

1. Robbie Kearns
Kearns was the unfortunate victim of a New South Wales bonding session in 1999 but it wasn’t as a result of a nightclub incident rather from being thrown from a horse in the NSW Megalong Valley. A shoulder injury sidelined Kearns for the entire Origin series.

2. Ken Nagas
An electrifying winger or fullback from the Canberra Raiders, Nagas was ruled out for the first half of the 1998 season after damaging his knee while skylarking with team-mates on a bus.

3. Les ‘Monty’ Heidke
Ipswich front-rower Heidke was ruled out of the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour with a poisoned leg, caused by a bite from a red-back spider.

4. David Kidwell
One of South Sydney’s big-name recruits in 2007, Kidwell was forced to undergo a knee reconstruction after tripping over his two-year-old daughter at a family barbecue.

5. Matt Adamson
The former Penrith second-rower left club officials non-plussed when he damaged both knees in a skiing accident in 1994.

6. Micheal Pattison
Heavily tackled playing for City against Country in 1982, Pattison broke both collarbones. His injury spawned a top 10 of its own – the things you can’t do with both arms in a sling!

7. David Gillespie
The tough-tackling Canterbury forward was a sure thing for selection on the 1986 Kangaroo tour until he severed a finger while working on a garbage truck.

8. Bill Mullins
His premiership career with Eastern Suburbs might have been over by 1981 but the blockbusting Mullins was still active in bush football when he broke a leg while playing darts.

9. Greg Florimo
The young North Sydney five-eighth was forced to wear a headgear into his first grade debut in 1985 after suffering injuries in a fall from his skateboard.

10. Jamie Ainscough
When former Australian Test winger Jamie Ainscough complained of pain in his forearm after playing for Wigan in 2002, doctors found the tooth of St Helens centre Martin Gleeson embedded in it. A severe infection led to fears that the arm would have to be amputated but he made a full recovery and resumed his career with the English club.