NRL Casualty Ward round 17: Campbell Graham describes playing with a broken face

Campbell Graham knew something was amiss at half-time as he battled on with a broken face - but didn’t understand the gravity of his injury, and his bravery, until days later.

Campbell Graham has spoken about the pain of playing with a broken face.

Mirroring the feats of Sam Burgess at the same venue, Graham played out the entire second half against Parramatta with a facial fracture.

He joins the likes of Burgess, Cooper Cronk (shoulder) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall (broken jaw) to play on despite significant injuries in recent seasons.

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Campbell Graham sustained the painful injury in the first half of the Rabbitohs’ win over Parramatta. Picture: Getty

Graham was unaware of the extent of his problem but the Rabbitohs centre knew something was amiss during the half-time break. He had collided with Waqa Blake while attempting a tackle and was taken the field to undergo a concussion test.

“I wasn’t dazed, I knew exactly what happened,” Graham said. “I felt heavy contact in my face I. lost my legs a little bit before I made contact and his shoulder went straight into my face.

“When I cooled down at half-time I thought ‘I might’ve done something here’. It was throbbing and I could feel swelling coming up.

“Once I was out there I was more focused on the game. I remember copping a couple of knocks and it was tender. I was more focused on the game. The pain started kicking in once the game was over. I don’t know if it was adrenaline it wasn’t bothering me too much.”

Graham played more than 40 minutes with the injury. Picture: Getty

Graham underwent facial surgery on Thursday after his face felt numb for days after the incident, He had three plates around his cheekbone and eye socket.

“When I got in the sheds and sat down I could felt it starting to throb,” Graham said. “I had pain in my teeth and my eye socket. After the game I was confident there was fracture.

“It was pretty swollen the next day my eye was puffed over and my cheek was ballooned out. Before I got scans I was confident there would be fracture.”

The injury will sideline Graham for at least six matches. He reached out to Burgess who etched himself in grand final folklore after playing the majority of the 2014 grand final with a broken cheekbone.

“I messaged him and saw him his x-ray and his looked pretty brutal,” Graham said. “He was asking how it was. He was saying he had gone through the whole surgery and it would be good.

“Six weeks is the goal. There are a few variables. It depends on complications with the surgery. Just depend on how the surgery goes.”

Originally published as NRL Casualty Ward round 17: Campbell Graham describes playing with a broken face