Goulburn Bulldogs captain-coach Mick Picker has revealed how close brother Joe came to requiring major facial surgery after copping a nasty blow to the head in a trial match last month.
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In his first match since celebrating an NRL premiership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Picker smashed his eye socket and cheekbone in a tackle against West Belconnen Warriors.
The back rower, who retired from the NRL last year, had successful keyhole surgery to repair extensive damage. He is expected to miss up to 12 weeks, including Saturday's grand final rematch against Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval.
"Originally they thought they might have to pull all his face down and plate it all up," Mick Picker said.
"They ended up going through his temple with keyhole surgery and getting the job done. Otherwise it would have been ear-to-ear around the hairline - it sounded pretty gruesome.
"He probably won't sit out the whole 12 weeks, probably eight or nine I'd say."
Having faced off in the grand final last year, Goulburn and the Queanbeyan Blues remain unbeaten heading into Saturday's contest.
Former Raiders teammates Mick Picker and Marc Herbert will start against each other at five-eighth, both partnered by emerging halfbacks Nicolas Cornish (Goulburn) and Peter Demamiel (Queanbeyan).
"It's quite weird how that's worked out," Blues coach Simon Woolford said. "Pete's still working out how we play, and we expect him to improve as he goes on.
"Herby's a key player for us and will be heavily involved in our attack, the same goes for Goulburn with Mick."
"They're going to be one of the teams to beat, they'll be the toughest as far as we're concerned," Woolford said. "There's always some added incentive there, you want to do well against the better teams in the comp."
CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP
Saturday: Round three (all 3pm) - Queanbeyan Blues v Goulburn at Seiffert Oval; Belconnen United v West Belconnen at O'Connor Oval; Gungahlin v Woden Valley at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval; Tuggeranong v Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Greenway Oval.
