Jillaroos star Sam Bremner's rotten luck with injury continued after she was helped from the field early in the second half of New South Wales's 22-6 Women's Interstate Challenge win over Queensland.
Bremner was caught awkwardly in a tackle near her own line in the first half and stayed down for a while before she waved off the trainers to bravely play on.
It was clear the flashy fullback was in discomfort and the pain eventually told five minutes into the second half when she went down without being touched in a sign she'd aggravated the right ankle injury.
The 2013 World Cup Player of the Tournament was carried off the field, but in a positive sign, was able to stay on the bench as she watched her teammates claim the Blues' second-straight Nellie Doherty Cup in style.
It's been a frustrating season for Bremner who missed the Anzac Test against New Zealand due to a head knock in the captain's run a day before the game.
Footy fans will have their fingers crossed that Sunday's setback is just a minor one with Bremner set to play a key role in Australia's World Cup defence later in the year.
"It's throbbing at the moment," she said moments after the full-time whistle.
"I've never hurt my ankle before. I just got tackled the wrong way, twisted my knee and my ankle on the line and pushed through the first half. I got it strapped up at half-time and then came back out but when I took off and exploded off it, it just popped.
"I thought I'd be able to push through it and get through it after I hurt it in the first half but I just took off and I could see the try-line and I reckon I would have been through but I heard two pops and it was gone.
"I'm trying not to be down about it because it seems to be a recurring thing that I keep getting these injuries every time there's a big game on, but I guess that makes me more resilient about bouncing back from it again."
Injuries aside, the NSW fullback had been one of the best players on the park for the first 40 minutes with Bremner producing a stunning try-saving tackle on Heather Ballinger in the opening minutes before she turned provider moments later to set up Jessica Sergis for the first try of the afternoon.
A champion competitor on and off the field, Bremner still wanted to contribute so she opted to stay on the sideline rather than head up the tunnel for treatment.
Her support was the icing on the cake as the Blues ran away with it in the second half, with Bremner able to hop on teammate and close friend Kezie Apps's back as the triumphant women belted out the team song.
"One promise I made when I was coming out here was that I'd give 100 per cent and that I wouldn't give up," she said.
"That's why I didn't come off as soon as I'd hurt it in the first half. If it was up to me, I'd still be out there for the second half but I got taken off for the betterment of the team and it worked out because we came away with the win."
This article first appeared on NRL.com
