Manly winger Jorge Taufua has revealed how he has postponed urgent collarbone surgery to help the Sea Eagles make an unlikely push to the NRL finals.
Taufua missed six weeks earlier this year after fracturing his collarbone in a round seven loss to Parramatta.
He was ordered to go under the knife again when an infection flared.
But the Tongan international says he’ll delay an operation so long as there is life left in Manly’s season.
“I have to get the plate out but if I get it out now, then I miss the rest of the year. At the moment it’s just a day-by-day thing,” Taufua said.
“I have to keep on top of it and the surgeon keeps ringing me to get it done but I just keep brushing it off because I want to keep playing.
“I like the vibe we have in the team at the moment and I just want to be a part of that and make the surge for the eight.”
Teammate Nathan Green said Taufua was playing down how much pain he’s in.
“It just typifies what we’re about at the moment, just turning up for each other,” he said.
“We need Jorge at the moment, we’re a bit short on outside backs and he’s doing a great job for us.
“He’s playing the best football he’s played all year, you wouldn’t even know he’s got an injury.”