South Sydney Back-Rower Eddy Pettybourne Plays 50 Minutes ...
South Sydney Back-Rower Eddy Pettybourne Plays 50 Minutes Of Season Opener With Broken Jaw
By Josh Massoud and James Phelps
The Daily Telegraph
March 17, 2010 12:00AM
Tough...Eddy Pettybourne played for 50 minutes with a broken jaw against the Roosters and (inset) Souths legend John Sattler. Source: The Daily Telegraph
SOUTH Sydney back-rower Eddy Pettybourne has revived memories of John Sattler's legendary 1970 grand final effort, playing 50 minutes of Sunday's season opener with a broken jaw.
Pettybourne said he suffered the injury in just the 8th minute, when the left side of his face collided with Lopini Paea's knee.
"It felt a bit sore when I got up but I didn't realise it was broken," the Kiwi international said.
"Then as the game went on I felt it rattling around a bit.
"I then had a collision with Braith Anasta that knocked me out momentarily. It started to get pretty sore after that.
"The only person I told was Beau Champion, and he said not to worry. I didn't want to come off anyway because I was angry with how we were going. I wanted to help the team."
Pettybourne said the pain increased as the match wore on, but Rabbitohs doctors were still unaware of the break until scans were taken on Monday morning. The 22-year-old Mascot junior underwent immediate surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital and was discharged yesterday.
"It feels a lot better now but it's still pretty swollen because of the operation," he said. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but now it's a bit freaky to think that I played with a broken jaw."
Rabbitohs coach John Lang was in awe of Pettybourne's courage to defy an injury that could leave him sidelined for two months.
"I haven't come across anything like it as a coach," the 324-game veteran said. "He didn't even say that much about it. He's a great kid. People will talk about Sattler, whose injury was probably worse, but it's still amazing."
Sattler's jaw was broken in the 1970 grand final between Souths and Manly after he was punched by Manly forward John Bucknall 10 minutes into the game.
Sattler refused treatment and played out the match in the Rabbitoh's 23-12 win.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-with-broken-jaw/story-e6frexnr-1225841602825
