Wests Tigers teammates stunned by toughness of winger Charlie Staines after brutal injury, emergency surgery revealed

Hardhead prop David Klemmer told Charlie Staines he’d had a good game against Manly. He was stunned to learn the next day that the winger had afterwards gone for emergency surgery, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Charlie Staines has earned the astonishment of his Wests Tigers teammates for playing on through the pain of a perforated bowel. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

David Klemmer says his respect for wingers has increased exponentially after discovering that Wests Tigers teammate Charlie Staines played on with a perforated bowel in Sunday’s defeat to Manly.

It’s believed Staines copped a knock in the second half, yet he stayed on the park as the Tigers searched for their first win of the season.

The 22-year-old spoke to the team doctor after the match and had emergency surgery on Monday.

“My respect for wingers has gone up another level,” Klemmer said on Wednesday. “The adrenaline must’ve got him through but as soon as the game stopped, it must have hit him like a ton of bricks.

“I told him that he’d had a good game, then he had a shower and we had a function after the game. I saw him walking out with the doc. I said, ‘I’ll see you after’, and that was it.

“We found out when we came in for review (on Monday) that he was in hospital. Things happened pretty quick.”

Staines played on through immense pain in the Tigers narrow loss to Manly. Picture: NRL Imagery

Despite the pain he must have felt, Staines – who scored a first-half try – didn’t shy away from contact.

“He was screaming for the ball and pushing everyone out of the way to get the ball and take a carry to help the team out,” Klemmer said.

“That’s just the type of bloke he is. He gives it his all.”

Not even Staines’ centre partner, fellow tryscorer Starford Toa, knew how bad his injury was.

“He copped one knock that hurt him that he told me about, but I didn’t know it was that serious,” Toa said.

“It was late in the second half. Lucky for him it didn’t make it worse over time. I think there was about 15 minutes left in the half.

“I found out yesterday that he was in hospital and had surgery.

“It’s worrying, especially internal (injuries). With broken bones, you know they’re going to repair, but with intestines and bowels, you never know what’s going to happen.”

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Staines is expected to be sidelined for at least seven weeks, with veteran David Nofoaluma named on the wing for the Tigers’ clash with Penrith in Bathurst this Saturday.

“He’s blown me off the park with how consistent he is around training, in the gym and his footy as well,” Klemmer said of Staines.

“I really rate him as a footy player. He’s been great to play with and great for this team.

“He can cover multiple positions and he’s a big loss for us. Then again, we’ve got the veteran Dave Nofoaluma back. He’s been playing reserve grade and doing good things there.”

Jahream Bula has been named at fullback again. Brent Naden, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, is also back at centre; replacing Asu Kepaoa, who has been ruled out through illness.

Originally published as Wests Tigers teammates stunned by toughness of winger Charlie Staines after brutal injury, emergency surgery revealed