The first thing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad saw was bone sticking out of his dislocated little finger, but it wasn't until afterwards the Canberra Raiders fullback found out how serious it could've been.
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His first instincts were to strap it up and get back out there in the win over South Sydney.
He's excited to be back facing the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers on Saturday after missing just one week.
But the popular Kiwi international revealed it was an injury that could've ruled him out for the rest of the season - adding him to an already long list of Raiders who might not play again in 2020.
Nicoll-Klokstad said if he'd damaged the tendons or ligaments in the little finger on his left hand then he could've been out for 10 weeks.
That would've ruled him out at least until finals. No wonder Canberra coach Ricky Stuart was happy with the initial diagnosis of one-to-two weeks.
He got through training on Tuesday and while he's still wearing guards on the problematic pinkie he's confident it will be fine to play.
"I really couldn't feel it, I was just carrying on. I just went into shock I guess. The first thing I saw was a bit of bone and I was like, 'Oh my goodness, what's happened?'," Nicoll-Klokstad recalled.
"Just walked off holding my wrist for some reason. It's all good. I'm really excited to be back.
"I was pretty confident I was only going to be a week. I really didn't know it could've been a lot worse than what it is.
"If there was tendon or ligament damage I could've been out for a lot longer than one week."
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Nicoll-Klokstad was full of praise for how winger Jordan Rapana deputised at fullback in his absence.
A cheeky Rapana offered to do some video with the 25-year-old to help get him ready for the Panthers.
"He showed a lot of experience. He's been in the game a long time and with a player like him he'd slot into anywhere in the 13," Nicoll-Klokstad said.
"I was really happy for him and we had a good laugh the next morning about some stuff and in particular his play-one kick.
"Something I can take out of his book is ... confidence."
NRL ROUND 13
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at Penrith Stadium, 7.35pm.
Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Joe Tapine, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Matt Frawley.
Panthers team: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Brent Naden, 4. Stephen Critchton, 5. Malakai Watene-Zeleniak, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Api Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Viliame Kikai, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaac Yeo. Interchange: 14. Tyrone May, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Zane Tetevano. Reserves: 18. Mitch Kenny, 19. Matt Burton, 20. Billy Burns, 21. Daine Laurie.