Jamie Feeney's battle scar was a red welt about the size of his thumb. It ran across the top of his shin, over a slow forming lump, and in that small injury was the cause of a world of hurt for Bronco Scott Prince.
That's where Feeney collided with Prince's shin, an impact that has put another question mark against Brisbane's ability to defend their NRL title.
Scott Prince broke his tibia and fibula and was operated on last night. He will be out for between nine and twelve months.
He took the ball in his own half, seven minutes out from the orange break when the score was 12-all. As Prince lined up to kick downfield Feeney attacked the kick. The Bulldogs had already pulled off one chargedown, a try comming to Willie Talau two tackles later, an there was no reason to think it wouldn't happen again.
"I thought it was just the ball," Feeney said of the noise later. "I didn't actually hear it."
Prince got the ball away and Feeney stopped and turned and saw Prince hit the deck. He was playing on, nothing different from most other plays. But Willie Mason said "I heard the crack from the sideline."
Then Feeney looked down and saw Prince writhing. He felt a small pain atop his shin and felt it to make sure all was okay. The problem lay elsewhere.
"That's five down," Wayne Bennett said. Bennett was puting into perspective what had happened to Brisbane this season. The club had lost Ben Ikin, Gorden Tallis and Phil Lee for the season, while Shaun Berrigan is expected back from a long term injury for the game with St George Illawara in three weeks.
