The pictures that prove the NRL’s still tough: Cronulla’s Jeff Robson soldiers on with gruesome injury

MUST SEE PICS: Jeff Robson owns NRL 2014’s most damaged head. The gritty Sharks halfback copped another horror gash last night - and played on.

SO, you think taking shoulder charges and punching out of the game has made the NRL soft?

Maybe you should try putting your head where Jeff Robson did on Monday night, then soldiering on for another 70 minutes with a head injury just months after suffering some of the most gruesome facial fractures seen in rugby league.

JT KICKS GOLDEN POINT TO DOWN SHARKS

Blood gushes from Jeff Robson’s head after colliding with Jason Taumalolo.

Jeff Robson’s head injury after the game against the Cowboys.

Ten minutes into Cronulla’s brave golden point loss to the Cowboys on Monday night, the 88kg halfback attempted to stop 110kg kid monster Jason Taumalolo as the North Queensland backrower came charging into the Sharks’ defensive line.

Robson miscued a touch and put his head in harm’s way — where it duly made contact with Taumalolo’s hip, causing blood to gush from a big cut on his scalp.

OUCH!!!! Eight stitches to the head for @Cronulla_Sharks halfback Jeff Robson (Via @DaveRic1) pic.twitter.com/TQA3A6gNN2

— FOX SPORTS News (@FOXSportsNews) September 1, 2014

@FOXSportsNews @DaveRic1 That was last year here's the one from tonight's game! #headforradio pic.twitter.com/zfad2OqsXt

— Jeff Robson (@jeffrobson82) September 1, 2014

You can almost see what Jeff Robson dreamed last night #NRLnqlcro

— Steve Mascord (@therealsteavis) September 1, 2014

While the gruesome blow caused Twitter to light up, Robson, one of the few experienced players in an unfamiliar Cronulla line-up, was only concerned with getting patched up so he could continue to lead the young side around the park.

Robson returned to the field against the Cowboys wearing headgear. Pic: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

After some stitches, and a bandage, a headgeared Robson came back on the park and almost helped his side engineer the biggest upset of the decade.

Go the @Cronulla_Sharks get @jeffrobson82 a New Jersey #madison head gear looks great

— NICHOLAS TYNAN (@NICHOLASTYNAN) September 1, 2014

To put this in perspective, Robson was forced to spend the opening rounds of this season on the sideline after suffering cheekbone and jaw fractures in a trial game against the Wests Tigers.

A close up of Robson’s face after another nasty collision earlier this year.

After the game on Monday night, Robson tweeted a picture of his face from that injury, as well as his new zipper scar on top of his head caused by the collision with Taumalolo.

Sadly his bravery wasn’t rewarded on Monday night — all he got was a golden point heartbreak to go with a cracking headache and another scar.

Originally published as The pictures that prove the NRL’s still tough: Cronulla’s Jeff Robson soldiers on with gruesome injury