Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has revealed prop Matt Prior had been hospitalised for days with a blood infection before inspiring the Sharks' 10-9 NRL win over Gold Coast.
Prior promptly headed back to the hospital after his heroics on Saturday night, this time to to be with his heavily pregnant wife.
Cronulla are sweating on NSW star Josh Dugan after the fullback came off in the dying minutes with a suspected left leg injury.
In the meantime, the Sharks were buoyed by Prior's gutsy return0.
Flanagan praised Prior after the front-rower spent three days in a Sydney hospital fighting a blood infection in his arm before flying out on Saturday morning to play.
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He ran 96m and made 15 tackles.
"He had an outstanding game. He's been in hospital the last couple of days on a drip," Flanagan said.
"To get out at 11am today, jump on a plane to come up and play NRL football after laying in bed for days is ... a pretty special effort.
"There were questions asked from our medical department. We prepared all week that he wouldn't be here but he was adamant that he was going to play.
"These players would do anything to play for this club at the moment so that is a good sign."
There is no rest in sight for Prior despite his inspired effort.
Prior was quickly out of the stadium and onto the next plane to Sydney to be with his wife Rebecca, who is expecting their first child.
"He is back on a plane now (to Sydney). His wife is heavily pregnant - it has been a real interesting couple of days for him," Flanagan said.
Flanagan also liked what he saw from Valentine Holmes after the winger extended his stunning tryscoring spree.
After Titans No.1 Michael Gordon spilled a Chad Townsend bomb, Holmes scored in the 12th minute - his fifth try in four games this year and seventh in as many matches against Gold Coast.
Halfback Townsend stepped up to seal victory with a 79th field goal - his second of the match.
"I think Valentine was our best player. Some of his carries out of our end were crucial to us getting the result - he's definitely getting back to his best football," Flanagan said.
