Featherstone scored 14 tries against Whitehaven last week – but one of them could have proved fatal for a Rovers player.
Goal-kicker Craig Hall, who landed 10 in the 76-4 win, has been told that a freak throat injury could have been life-threatening had he ignored advice to seek hospital treatment.
Hall spent a night at Pinderfields Hospital during the week after damaging neck cartilage in the win over the West Cumbrians which sent Rovers top of the Championship.
Days later the injury had caused bleeding, leading to a blood clot around the voice box, blocking his airwaves.
Hall has admitted later on a personal video message: “If stuff hadn’t been done then it could have been fatal.
“It was a freak injury. Gaz (Gareth Gale) scored and as I went over to congratulate him his shoulder blade went into my throat.
“I carried on with the game but after it I couldn’t speak. It took a bit of a turn on Wednesday when the physio said it was best to go and get it checked out.
“I went to Pinderfields hospital and got really looked after. Thank you to the NHS. I ended up staying the full night with x-rays, CT scans, cameras down the throat, I can’t thank them enough.
“When a doctor tells you something could be life-threatening it knocks you back a little.”
The blow to Hall’s neck had caused a crack in the cartilage around his throat. It went on to bleed causing a haematoma around the voice box which is the route air takes to fill the lungs. Without intervention it may have proved fatal.
The veteran was making his first appearance of the season for the promotion favourites and will now be side-lined for at least a fortnight.
It wasn’t the best birthday Hall has experienced – he was 35 on the Tuesday after the game.
