IS this the toughest man in sport's history? League player Paul Wood played through the searing pain of a ruptured testicle in the second half of last Saturday's Super League grand nal and later lost the gonad.
His fortitude evoked debate as to whether Wood may have produced sport's greatest ever act of bravery.
John Sattler famously played with a broken jaw in the 1970 league grand final, while Hawthorn's Robert DiPierdomenico played on with broken ribs and a punctured lung in the 1989 VFL final.
Even in the recent AFL grand final, Swans forward Adam Goodes kicked a crucial goal despite having snapped the posterior ligament in his knee.
Wood may top the lot.
He took a knee to the groin early in the second half of the defeat to Leeds, but continued playing and even gave interviews to reporters afterward before being taken to hospital where the extent of the damage was revealed. Surgery was performed to remove his right testicle.
Sports doctor John Orchard said the pain rating for such an injury would be "11 out of 10" but added: "A grand final is an 11 out of 10 occasion, it is a time in your life you have to stand up more than any other.
"It is different to a broken leg. Often in these games, if a player can get back on the field he will.
"It just shows how with the adrenaline rush of a grand final, you find a way to push through."
Wood, who turns 31 tomorrow and has two children, made light of his horricfic injury on Twitter.
"(Coach) Tony smith did say in his pre-match team talk last night 'you're (sic) balls are on the line here guys!' I didn't think he meant literally #wolves" Wood tweeted, as well as: "Just coming out the hospital to go home . . . seriously feel like I've left something?"
Even Wood's wife Shelly got in on the pun action, tweeting: "can't remember a season without some kind of op at the end xx #toughnut".
Orchard, the Roosters doctor who saw utility Chris Flannery overcome a ruptured testicle in the 2004 semi-finals only to back up a week later in the decider, said there was no doubting the bravery of athletes with this injury.
"If what Chris did isn't the most courageous thing I've seen it is in the top three," Orchard said.
"He has gone on to have kids and a long career; in the big picture you are more likely to affected by a knee injury, developing arthritis."
Wood's injury conjured memories of some of the worst "man injuries" in sport.
In 1986, former All Blacks captain Buck Shelford had his scrotum torn, leaving one testicle hanging free, after being rucked viciously by a Frenchman during a wild Test in Nantes. The back-rower went to the sideline, had the physio stitch up his injury, then returned to the field before he was concussed by a blow to the head. Shelford does not recall any of that game.
In 1976, Chicago Bears cornerback Virgil Livers suffered perhaps the worst of these injuries while blocking a punt, he was struck by a knee to his groin and his testicle exploded.
Livers nevertheless lined up for the ensuing series of plays before his scrotum swelled up so badly he could not run properly.
When trainers performed an X-ray on Livers, they found his testicle had "shattered like a light bulb". Livers recovered to father two children.
TOUGH NUT BRIGADE
Paul Wood (2012): Warrington Wolves prop played on in the Super League grand final after rupturing his right testicle and later lost it
Virgil Livers (1976): Chicago Bears cornerback took a knee to the groin while blocking a punt, and his testicle exploded
Buck Shelford (1986): All Blacks legend had his scrotum ripped open by a vicious French boot during a ruck. He had the physio sew it back up and he returned to the field
Sami Salo (2010): Vancouver Canucks defenseman Salo suffered a ruptured testicle when a flying puck struck him during the NHL playoffs. He returned to the rink two days later to the chant Balls of Steel
Chris Flannery (2004): Sydney Roosters utility ruptured his testicle in NRL semi-final, played on, got treated afterwards and played in the grand final a week later
