One unfortunate NRL player has suffered one of the nastiest injuries a man can experience.
North Queensland Cowboys star Tom Dearden has reportedly ruptured his testicle and will now undergo surgery to fix it.
It's understood he sustained the gut-wrenching injury during his side's 48-4 win against the Warriors over the weekend.
The talented 21-year-old is expected to be sidelined for between two to four weeks, tipped to return for Round 25 ahead of the Finals.
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According to the NRL Physio, the Cowboys will be wary of rushing the star five-eighth back after going under the knife as there can be long term implications if not treated properly.
"Tom Dearden required surgery after rupturing a testicle in Rd 23," the NRL Physio tweeted.
"Usually requires 2-4 weeks recovery. Pain obviously off the charts - thankfully if treatment performed within 2-3 days 90% make a full recovery with no long term implications (fertility etc)."
Dearden has been in sensational form this season, helping the Cowboys climb to second on the ladder.
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His individual performances also saw him selected to represent Queensland in State of Origin, another arena where he thrived under the pressure and steered his team to a historic series victory.
The Cowboys have a tough run leading up to the NRL Finals and Dearden absence will undoubtedly be noticeable.
Topics: Australia, NRL, Rugby League, Injury
Max Sherry