![TOUGH NUT: George O'Brien, pictured in action against Cessnock, suffered a split spleen in Saturday's game against Macquarie Scorpions. TOUGH NUT: George O'Brien, pictured in action against Cessnock, suffered a split spleen in Saturday's game against Macquarie Scorpions.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/33FVAk7YxZ786YcQSXi4WkS/f3c8f503-a153-4ff6-8ddc-1b1980ebaa0c.jpg/r0_137_2672_1645_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Maitland Pickers centre George O'Brien was rushed to hospital with a split spleen on Tuesday night after sustaining the injury in Saturday's match against Macquarie Scorpions.
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Pickers coach Trevor Ott said O’Brien complained of muscle soreness after the game, but showed not obvious signs of any internal injuries.
“He felt worse and worse and said at training he felt like he had torn a muscle,” he said.
“His dad picked him up and he had to stop to go to the toilet. He discovered blood in his urine and his dad rushed him to the Mater.
“It was touch or go on whether he would need to be operated on. They managed to stabilise him and drained about a litre of blood from his stomach.
“He is on the mend, but is likely to miss a month from work. He is such a tough bugger it shocks you when someone like that is laid down.”
O’Brien’s injury follows a training accident which left back-rower Tylah Carter in hospital for several days when a blood clot formed in his thigh.
Ott said Carter’s recovery was continuing and the good news was that the clot had remained in the muscle of his leg and was being reduced by treatment.
“He is still in a fair bit of pain. Like George he is so tough, you know it’s bad when he complains about pain.”
The Pickers have had a horror run with injuries, losing wing Bailey Jenkins until the last third of the season with an ankle injury in a practice game. Fellow wing Dan Randall’s season ended when smashed his ankle in a tackle against Cessnock in round four.
The Maitland Pickers and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs both have a week’s break with a competition-wide bye.