Cronulla match-winner James Segeyaro beat Storm with broken arm

EXCLUSIVE: THE hero in Cronulla’s courageous win over Melbourne — James Segeyaro — continued playing despite suffering a suspected broken arm in his first tackle.

THE hero in Cronulla’s courageous win over Melbourne — James Segeyaro — continued playing despite suffering a suspected broken arm in his first tackle.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Segeyaro will visit a surgeon at 9.30am on Tuesday to determine if the arm is broken and whether he will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Segeyaro suffered the injury after coming off the bench in Cronulla’s gutsy 11-2 win at AAMI Park on Sunday and had x-rays yesterday.

“He could have broken his arm,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said. “He has had x-rays. It is the arm that he has broken before.”

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James Segeyaro scored the match-winning try against the Storm in round 6

It would be a crushing blow for Segeyaro, playing just his third game for Cronulla after receiving a mid-season release from English club Leeds.

Segeyaro scored the only try of the match against Melbourne when he followed through his own grubber kick to secure a match-sealing try eight minutes from fulltime.

Flanagan has used Segeyaro brilliantly with rising hooker Jayden Brailey, with the pair taking over from retired Michael Ennis.

“When I say it could be broken, we are hoping it’s just the screws have come loose. He has a plate in there. It is hard with MRIs because of the plate,” Flanagan said.

“It’s not displaced as I understand and you can’t see it on ultra-sounds. If it is broken, they are saying four to six weeks.

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Segeyaro is believed to have broken his arm in his first tackle since coming onto the field

“It happened in his first tackle. We will know more (this morning) once he has seen the surgeon. We’re not quite what it is just yet. We will find out what it is.”

Segeyaro’s courage typified the will-to-win from a Cronulla side fiercely defending their 2016 premiership title.

“This is a hiccup and it would be disappointing if it was broken,” Flanagan said. “He is three weeks back and his game time is increasing.

“Having him and Jayden there, it’s a real good mix for us.”

Ennis, along with former Test centre Justin Hodges, paid tribute to Segeyaro’s performance against Melbourne.

Young hooker Jayden Brailey would likely play 80 minutes if Segeyaro is out injured

“The way Shane Flanagan is using Segeyaro is perfect,” Ennis said on Fox Sports. “Each week he’s got better. Today he came up with some really big plays, a couple of nice kicks, built pressure and the winning try.”

Hodges added: “James Segeyaro, when he came on made a big difference around the ruck.”

Flanagan will have to re-jig his interchange bench should Segeyaro be ruled out of Sunday’s big match against Penrith at Pepper Stadium.

“We always rise against the good sides and we did that (against Melbourne),” Flanagan said.

Cronulla will confront a Panthers side boosted by the return of sacked stars Matt Moylan, Peta Hiku and Waqa Blake.

The three players were dropped by Penrith coach Anthony Griffin for breaking a booze curfew in Melbourne the previous week. The trio played NSW Cup last weekend.