Joseph Manu has come under the spotlight for appearing to fake a knee injury before setting up a late try in the Roosters thumping of the Dragons. With the Roosters on the attack just inside Dragons territory Manu ran back to clean up a loose Connor Watson pass. As he came up with the ball he stopped in his tracks and clutched at his right knee. Commentator Andrew Voss feared for the worst, and the pursuing Dragons defenders hesitated. Manu took advantage of that split second and took off between them, before putting a kick ahead which was chased down by centre Paul Momirovski, who grounded to ball to take the score to 46-26.
You have to wonder how Manu and Roosters coach Trent Robinson will react next time one of their players has a genuine injury and is belted by defenders not prepared to risk the same embarrassment. It is the classic "boy cries wolf" situation and it plays at the decency of all players, who generally back off when a fellow player is injured. Coaches everywhere will now be in their players' ears making sure they don't fall for a similar stunt from Manu or others. It was a thoughtless piece of play, one that could have far-reaching detrimental consequences.