Trinity star Hampshire saluted for playing on with broken jaw
UTILITY back Ryan Hampshire played with a broken jaw for over an hour during Wakefield Trinity’s defeat at Castleford Tigers on Friday night.
The 25-year-old is set to be sidelined for six weeks with the injury, leaving Wakefield with just one fit half-back in captain Jacob Miller.
Wakefield head coach Chris Chester hailed the bravery of Hampshire, aptly nicknamed ‘Rocky’, as he played through the pain at Wheldon Road.
“We have lost Rocky now, credit to him, though, because he did that jaw very early on in the game,” revealed Chester.
“It just shows how tough he is, to play 65 minutes with a broken jaw. It takes some doing.
“It takes a tough individual to get through a game like that. We are disappointed for Rocky and it does leave us short in the halves until we get these guys back.”
Wakefield are unsure of when Danny Brough will return to action but the veteran half-back began training again on Monday.
The former Huddersfield Giants star was injured in the opening game of the campaign at Hull KR, with initial fears that he would be out for the season.
“Broughy ran on Monday and jumped in with the session,” added Chester. “It wasn’t great conditions, there was a covering of snow on the 4G pitch at Dewsbury where we have had to train due to the weather we have had.”
If Brough is unable to feature in Sunday’s game with Salford Red Devils, Chester does have a number of players who could partner Miller, such as Max Jowitt, Connor Bailey, Kyle Wood and Josh Wood.
Salford’s Kevin Brown will serve the second match of his two-game suspension.