It causes him untold pain that necessitates hours of physiotherapy in order to play the following week but Jordan Kahu is stubbornly refusing to allow an ongoing groin injury to stop him from goal-kicking in the Broncos' biggest games of the year.
Still smarting after missing the sideline conversion of the first of Corey Oates's two tries that ultimately proved to be the difference in the 24-22 loss to the Roosters last Friday night, Kahu won't be able to practise his goal-kicking until Thursday's captain's run but is insistent he perform the role for his team.
The 26-year-old told NRL.com last month that the groin injury that may require surgery at the end of the season has been troubling him since Round 7 and he feared that it had been impacting his performances on the wing.
Such was his discomfort he handed the goal-kicking duties over to Anthony Milford for three weeks before stepping back into the breach in Round 26 where he kicked two from four and then again last Friday he kicked three goals from four attempts.
Overall the Broncos rank 11th in goal-kicking percentage this season and with finals matches decided by such small margins they need Kahu to step up to the kicking tee, his 72 goals from 90 attempts at 80 per cent placing him 11th of goal-kickers this year who have had at least 20 shots on goal.
Other than James Roberts' sole unsuccessful shot on goal Milford is the only other Bronco to have taken on the goal-kicking duties with 22 from 32 for a 68.8 percentage, making Kahu's commitment even more crucial in what is now sudden death football against the Panthers.
"Personally I just want that job," Kahu said on Monday.
"I've put so much time into it and my body has held me back enough and I just want that job to be honest.
"Come finals time I want to be taking those big kicks. I missed another one on the weekend which I'm pretty filthy on and ended up losing by two points.
"It's such a crucial time of the year and I just want that job."
Kahu confirmed that his groin injury could withstand the demands of playing fullback should Darius Boyd fail to recover from his hamstring injury in time but that kicking goals is what places the additional pressure on his injury.
"After a game it's pretty high," Kahu said of the discomfort it causes him over the course of a week.
"Throughout the week the staff look after me really well so it's low during the week but after the games is when it gets pretty sore and the more kicking I do it's a bit sorer.
"I probably spend an hour in the physio room each morning. I get here pretty early just to go in there and then I come out here on a modified training and then straight back into the physio room just doing as much as I can.
"It is pretty sore but I've been able to cope. Being this time of year, finals time, it's something that just gets pushed to the back of mind.
"I'm just trying to focus on doing my job and trying to keep my groin out of my head as much as I can."
A certainty to be picked in David Kidwell's New Zealand team for the World Cup at the end of the year, like Milford Kahu could be forced to miss the tournament if he requires surgery when Brisbane's season ultimately comes to an end.
"I've still got to get scans and stuff but it's looking that way," Kahu said of the likelihood of surgery.
