Warning: This article contains graphic images.
Manly Sea Eagles forward Joel Thompson suffered a gruesome tongue injury during Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Newcastle Knights.
Thompson's teammate Curtis Sironen posted an image of the horrific injury to his Instagram page, which showed his tongue split in half and his mouth covered in blood.
"He's tough the old bush goat," Sironen wrote.
While it remains unclear how the injury happened, Thompson was seen wiping blood away from his mouth three minutes into the match after getting tackled, but he remained on the field and played the entire 80 minutes.
After the photo was uploaded to Twitter, Thompson replied: "Just save my teeth, that's all I care about."
Thompson got stitches after the game, and is expected to play for the Sea Eagles in their next match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
In Sunday's other game, a late Luke Brooks field goal saw the Wests Tigers claim a 29-28 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney.
Brooks slotted the game-winner shot from 32 metres out to ensure the Tigers stay in touching distance of the top eight.
Kiwis captain Benji Marshall is in doubt for the Tigers next weekend after sustaining an ankle injury during the match.
The Bulldogs meanwhile face the NZ Warriors.
Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the NZ Warriros v Canterbury Bulldogs NRL clash
