Richie Mathers has had emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicles after sustaining the injury during a Super League match at the weekend.
The Wakefield Trinity Wildcats full-back picked up the problem during the defeat to Wigan Warriors, before being taken off with a foot injury later in the game.
The 29-year-old told reporters: "Darrell Goulding's knee caught my right testicle by accident and I felt it all the first half, although it wasn't excruciating. I then went over on my foot and came off with that. I literally stayed up all night icing my foot and I was like a zombie when I went to training yesterday.
"It was only when I went for a shower that I noticed the testicle had swollen a fair bit and I showed it to the doctor, who sent me straight for scans. It's been a crazy 24-hour emotional rollercoaster. The crazy thing is I was more concerned about my foot.
"The testicle had swollen to the size of a tennis ball and gone black and they spoke about counselling because it looked like I would lose it. I must thank first and foremost the club doctor John Lynagh and I can't praise the staff of St James enough for how quickly and sympathetically they dealt with me."
It is expected that Mathers will miss Wakefield's game against Warrington Wolves this weekend while he recovers from the operation.
Sian Cowper
