Jun 6th, 2018

Jun 6th, 2018

It’s a moment that Andrew Johns will never forget – and neither will the rest of us.

It’s game one of the 2003 State of Origin series and NSW centre Michael De Vere has suffered a gruesome head wound after a clash with Queensland’s Tonie Carroll.

Enter Blues medico John Orchard who whips out a staple gun and whacks half a dozen staples into De Vere’s head as quick as you like to close the cut up.

“He was trying to use the staple gun but his hands were shaking that much that it ended up breaking and the staples were hanging out,” Johns said.

(Nine) NSW centre Michael De Vere receives a staple from Blues doctor John Orchard.

Round 1 Queensland vs New South Wales State of Origin 2020: Round 1 TBC - Wednesday November 4th, 8:30 am Round 2 New South Wales vs Queensland State of Origin 2020: Round 2 TBC - Wednesday November 11th, 8:30 am Round 3 Queensland vs New South Wales State of Origin 2020: Round 3 TBC - Wednesday November 18th, 8:30 am Swipe to view more

“I went on a boat trip surfing and a few of the guys I now from America said, ‘Bring a rugby league game, we’ve got to watch it.’

“I’m showing them this game and then this came on and they were horrified.

“They were going, ‘This is on TV? Kids are watching this?’

“They just couldn’t believe it.

“The staple gun unfortunately, I don’t think it saw the light of day after that.”