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When talk turns to heroic acts in New Zealand sport, the names of All Black Ron Elvidge and Kiwi cricketers Bob Blair and Bert Sutcliffe inevitably top of the list.
Elvidge, the All Blacks flanker and captain, refused to bow after seriously injuring his collarbone in a test against the British Lions in Wellington in 1950. The Otago University medical graduate left the field for treatment, but it was still the no-replacements era, so Elvidge returned to the Athletic Park arena in the second half and stationed himself in the backline.
The stricken skipper with the wounded wing popped up to score a try to seal a 6-3 win and a series-sealing victory in what proved to be Elvidge's final test.
Blair and Sutcliffe's courage has been thoroughly documented. The pair were playing for New Zealand in a Christmas test match against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1953 when word was received Blair's fiancee had been killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster. Inconsolable in grief, he returned to the hotel and it was announced he would play no further part in the match.
Sutcliffe needed hospital treatment after he was hit in the head by a ball from South African fireball bowler Neil Adcock. But, with his head swathed in bandages, the elegant left-hander returned to the crease after the Kiwi innings suffered a freefall. Blair, listening to radio commentary in his room, heard Sutcliffe's heroics. He caught a ride back to the ground and got a standing ovation as he walked out to join Sutcliffe for a defiant, 33-run last-wicket stand.
There are numerous other examples since of extreme courage and determination by New Zealand sportspeople. None more so than Mahe Drysdale's singles sculls bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games when he was stricken by a stomach virus to the point of collapse.
Add retired Black Sox captain Rhys Casley to the doughty band. The Hutt Valley infielder called "time" on his 14-year career last week after battling with debilitating shoulder, back and knee injuries.
But Casley defied medical science in March when he launched an improbable comeback that led his coaches and team-mates to dub him Captain Courageous.
In mid-August last year, Casley collided with a fielder while running the bases at the International Softball Congress tournament in the United States. He knew something was wrong with his right shoulder because he was crippled with pain when he went to throw the ball in the next inning.
On his return to New Zealand, he discovered that the bicep tendon had been torn from the bone. He went under the knife in November, with his surgeon "drilling some anchors" to sew it all back together.
The medics reckoned it was usually a six to nine-month recovery. But they didn't know Rhys Casley. The Black Sox were hellbent on winning back their crown at the International Softball Federation world championships in Auckland on March 13. Their skipper wasn't going to miss it. He said he'd condense his rehab programme to three to four months.
Casley was as good as his word. He was named in the New Zealand squad in December and passed a fitness test a month later.
But disaster struck again. He reinjured his shoulder at a tournament in Auckland in mid-February, just a fortnight out from the world series. Everyone thought he was gone, everyone except Casley and Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase. Casley remained on the Black Sox roster with Kohlhase making the tough call to cut outfielder Jerome Haretuku to bring in Nathan Nukunuku as specialist infield cover for his captain.
Kohlhase said: "Rhys is an integral member of this Black Sox side and is our leader on and off the diamond. It's imperative we continue to work with him . . ."
Softball insiders admired the coach's loyalty but secretly thought Casley would only be a non-playing captain.
But, in announcing his decision to keep Casley on board, Kohlhase made a telling comment: "He can still hit." What an understatement that proved to be.
Casley didn't play in the early rounds but he was back in the lineup, largely in a specialist designated hitter role.
It was the skipper who broke Australian ace pitcher Adam Folkard's no-hitter in a vital playoff game which gave the Black Sox a perfect path to the grand final.
The final against Venezuela was delicately poised at 1-1 with Brad Rona and Daniel Milne on base when Casley came to bat in the fourth inning. It was one of those moments spectators will remember forever.
One sweet swing, one crack of the bat later, the ball sailed over the centrefield fence. Casley cantered around the bases, celebrating a three-run homer. The Black Sox jumped to an unassailable 4-1 lead and went on to win a record fourth world championship.
The slugger simply shrugged and said it felt "surreal". Kohlhase called him "our Captain Courageous".
"He really shouldn't have been here with that injury. It was a credit to the physios and medical staff that got him out there. What an outstanding player."
Reflecting this week, Casley said it was a "tribute" to Kohlhase too. "Ed had faith in me when, at times, I didn't have faith in myself."
It was also a salutary lesson to sports journalists and fans. No matter how much we think we know about a specific sport, only team-mates and coaches truly understand a player's character.
Rhys Casley has an abundance of grit. The next Black Sox leader has big cleats to fill.
- © Fairfax NZ News
