Hospital horrors: Eels legend David Liddiard the most injured player in rugby league history

David Liddiard, the unbreakable 83kg Parramatta Eels winger, suffered injuries to every part of his battered body - but he kept coming back for more. These are the horrific results of that bravery.

Former Parramatta players David Liddiard (L) and Peter Wynn (R) with Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis.

Former premiership winner David Liddiard is often forced to ask strangers on the street to help do-up his shirt buttons and scanners ring loudly when he walks through airport security.

These are just two challenges facing a brilliant speedster who sustained more injuries than any other player in rugby league history.

Over a 12 year career in Australia and England, Liddiard endured and sustained an ankle reconstruction, two titanium knees, shoulder reconstruction, three broken jaws and had his top teeth knocked out.

He had seven broken noses, stitches inserted into the back of his head, three broken cheekbones, stitches to reattach his tongue and seven procedures to laser back nerves.

And Liddiard suffered five broken ribs, a broken collarbone, stitches above his eye, Carpal tunnel syndrome in his wrist, ten concussions and three broken fingers.

He was the unbreakable 83 kgs winger.

Liddiard’s wrists have become so sore through arthritis that he struggles to do-up his shirt buttons and tells concerned airport security about his titanium knees.

“I’ve got Carpel Tunnel. That is where they cut into your wrist to free-up the blood flow. My hands and body are full of arthritis from injuries,” he said.

David Liddiard carries the ball during the 1983 grand final. Picture: NRL Photos

“I sometimes have to ask people in the street to do up my shirt buttons for me, I can’t do it. It’s a bit crazy but they are nice enough to do. I’d hate to walk around town with my shirt undone.

“I’m about to fly to the Gold Coast and I’ve got to go through a (security) screen. The bloody thing goes off every time. It’s a pain – I tell them I have titanium knees. The weather can affect my knees too.

“I played at 83 kgs and was running into blokes like (Noel) ‘Crusher’ Cleal and Les Boyd.

“I wasn’t wearing my mouth guard one day and bit through my tongue. I nearly bit off my tongue so had to get it stitched back on. There’s been head clashes. I had all my top teeth knocked out. It cost me $25,000 for caps.

“Most of the blokes that played in our era copped injuries. When you got concussed, they would come out with some smelling salts and you’d get up and keep playing. That’s what the game was about back then.

“I’ve got a few aches and pains but I still go to the gym. I try to stay on top of it – it’s in my DNA. I did a lot of rehab to get going again. A lot of blokes like having 20 beers but I will only have a few and feel good. I love training.”

Asked if he would do it all again, Liddiard said: “One-hundred per cent. I made amazing friends. I loved every minute of it.”

The courageous Liddiard, now 62, played 135 first grade games with Parramatta, Penrith and Manly between 1983 and 1992, scoring 40 tries.

He was part of the Eels’ grand final winning side in 1983 – the year he won Dally M rookie of the year - while also playing a total of 51 games for English clubs Hull Kingston Rovers, Hull FC and Oldham.

OAM recipient David Liddiard.

In the rough and tumble 1980s, Liddiard copped a battering here in the old NSWRL and in the rough English competition.

“They used to ask wingers to take it up in those days. ‘Guru’ (Eric Grothe) was okay because he was built like a brick s…house and would smash through them but I wasn’t big,” Liddiard said.

“In England, they didn’t like the Aussies playing so it felt like I was knocked out every week. I broke my ankle really badly while in England, that’s why I had to have the ankle reconstruction. That ended my career.”

Liddiard, OAM, continues to play a major role in indigenous health and wellbeing. He was also a part of Parramatta’s losing grand final side in 1984.

Originally published as Hospital horrors: Eels legend David Liddiard the most injured player in rugby league history