Roosters winger Blake Ferguson played the final 30 minutes of Sunday night's grand final with a broken fibula.
While his teammate Cooper Cronk earned plaudits for taking the field despite a fractured scapula, NRL.com can reveal Ferguson was battling his own injury in the 21-6 win over the Storm.
The Parramatta-bound winger – who had 21 carries on the night for 155 metres, having led the league for run metres in 2018 – played the bulk of the second half with a broken leg.
Ferguson celebrated with teammates on crutches and in a moonboot throughout the night.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson told NRL.com on Monday he wasn't aware of the full extent of Ferguson's injury until after full-time.
"Not until probably 20 or 30 minutes after the game. We knew he had an injury but then the longer that goes it sort of starts to get numb so they ended up getting it scanned and we found out he'd broken his leg," he said.
Match Highlights: Roosters v Storm
Robinson said Ferguson's willingness to play through the pain was emblematic of his team-first mindset throughout the 2018 season.
"The way Blake commented this year was very much the next game, the next moment, and it was all about the team – there wasn't that selfishness that people can have when they're younger in their career. That's what goes into those performances, that's when an injury happens and you go 'what's my job, I'm a winger I can't get replaced, I've got to continue on'.
"It's not just about last night it's about the mentality he had throughout the year and the growth in him as a person.
"Him leaving (for the Eels), it's tough now when you think about it but that's delivering on faith shown in him in a real down period in 2014 when he walked in the doors (at the Roosters) and played in 2015, and it's a fitting end for a guy who's worked hard on his life and his footy."
There was more injury dramas for the Roosters with forward Zane Tetevano rupturing his biceps tendon midway through the second half. He'll require surgery which will put him out of action for three months.
Meanwhile Melbourne Storm prop and New Zealand Test hopeful Nelson Asofa-Solomona's Kiwis prospects look slim after he was also seen in moon boot after aggravating an ankle sprain.