The Toughest XIII

[Mr Saab]

C Mortimer pulled a pin out his broken thumb to play a 1989 semi with the panthers. Nuts!

 

[MKEB...]

Mark graham played a test test with a broken cheekbone

 

[Green Machine]

What about when Jimmy Jack had his teeth knocked out in a Saturday game at North Sydney. I think it was 1989 or 1990. He put the teeth in his sock and scored the match winning try. Tough bastard,

 

[MKEB...]

Garry Mercer played a test with broken Ribs...I didnt like him anyway...thats pretty tough though..

Brendan Tuuta , spear tackling Meninga... (tough or stupid, I cant decide)

 

[Fibroman]

What about Peter Kelly, former Canterbury and Panther hardman?

Gary jack was pretty tough for a fullback. His howdie doodie nose and face would tend to support that.

Chris 'Lewie' Mortimer another Panther/Bulldog that really stiffened things up in the outside backs.

Mark Bugden once played an entire 7's tournament with a broken radius (arm) didn't bat an eyelid and didn't miss a tackle.

No mention of Dallas Donnelly anywhere?

What about Gavin Miller?

Craig Gower is the toughest I've seen. He would be captain of the side.

 

[Nutz]

Not necessarily listed by position but a few that wore their heart on their sleeve that I used to love watch were....
Gary Jack - Balmain
Trevor Gillmeister - Bronccos
Mick Neil - Balmain
Craig Gower - Penrith
Geoff Toovey - Manly
Johnathan Thurston - Cowboys
Robbie O’Davis - Knights
Jonathan Docking - Sharks
Stacey Jones - Warriors
Matty Bowen - Cowboys

 

[Fangs]

Craig Gower tough or stupid not sure which. Let's say it's ticker.

Watched him get knocked out cold against the Warriors at home. After a few minutes lying on the ground he was assisted to his feet by three trainers and a short time later carried on leading the Penrith attack.

Would often come back very early from injury as well. MCL, fractured sternum, broken hand. That guy was hell bent on playing football no matter what the cost to his body.

 

[Chimp]

Mark Glanville always struck me as someone who was old school hard as nails.
And wasn’t Dave Furner one who nobody wanted to punch on with?

 

[Saxon]

Can't disagree with most of those names.

Another in the tough or stupid category was Dallas Johnson.

 

[soc123_au]

Craig Gower tough or stupid not sure which. Let's say it's ticker.

Watched him get knocked out cold against the Warriors at home. After a few minutes lying on the ground he was assisted to his feet by three trainers and a short time later carried on leading the Penrith attack.

Would often come back very early from injury as well. MCL, fractured sternum, broken hand. That guy was hell bent on playing football no matter what the cost to his body.

Gower was a dead set lunatic. A few times he looked like he needed a hearse more than a stretcher only to dust himself off and put in a MoM performance. He & Chris Mortimer are probably the 2 toughest I've ever seen pull on a Panthers jersey. Shout out also to Peter Wallace, finishing a game with a ruptured nut (Origin no less) and the game at Bathurst he played 40 odd minutes with a ruptured ACL. Edwards CCM with a broken foot was also pretty special.

2 others worth a mention are the Morris twins. Cant recall the year but both were pretty severely injured in an Origin game and still managed to ignore the pain and do some miraculous stuff.

Sam Burgess in the 2014 GF also falls into the not sure if tough or stupid category. Either way pretty solid effort.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Craig Gower with the horse needle in his sternum before every game in 2003 while casually reading magazines with his team mates wincing.

 

[firechild]

Honestly, any team without Toovey is invalid.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Ian Roberts would be one I'd nominate.

 

[soc123_au]

Honestly, any team without Toovey is invalid.

Fair shout.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

This thread sorely lacking a Simon Mannering mention.
Tough bastard that never had care for his own body.
Total monster on defence whilst injured or very ill with sickness he kept playing and playing.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Mark graham played a test test with a broken cheekbone

Yea Graham Lowe has shared that story a few times. Apparently the biggest issue during that test wasn't his cheek or teeth, it was a broken ankle. Tough hombre

 

[Chimp]

Mal Reilly would have to be the coach……

Pretty much every rugby league team in the land now do ‘Malcolms’ as both fitness drills and punishments!