Rugby league, specifically the NRL, is the toughest sport in the world. A natural response to playing the toughest sport in the world are injuries. And while it would be awesome if they didn't exist, unfortunately, that comes with the territory.
With injuries, comes players playing with and through them. And while you may find yourself grimacing at the gladiatorial nature of a player playing through a broken bone, nothing makes for a better story. It's moments like these that turn great plays, games and players into legends that will far outlast the player that did it.
You only have to look as far back as Round 3 of the 2022 season to find the latest one. Sure, if Ray Stone scores the game-winning try by trying harder than everyone andย doesn'tย injure himself, it's awesome. The fact he tore his ACL and still got the job done, while horrible and sad, makes it a legendary moment.
So, with that being said, let's take a look at some of the toughest, most memorable and most heroic moments and games the game has seen.
4. Tackle One: Cooper Cronk
On the eve of the 2018 NRL grand final, Cooper Cronk had committed to playing. During the week, when he was undertaking five hours of physio a day and gritting his teeth through the pain of pushups to prove his fitness, he wasn't so sure.
Playing in the unfamiliar number 23 jersey, Cronk had one of the best games you will see, all while barely touching the ball. Cronk had only 18 touches in the game but if you watched it, the impact of having him out there is unquestionable.
Ruling himself out on Friday night before calling Trent Robinson to let him know "I'm in" after a Friday night physio session, Cronk put in one of the toughest performances the sporting world has ever seen.
