NRL fans divided over whether Sydney Roosters player Joseph Manu faked an injury in win over Dragons

Roosters star Joseph Manu put in what may be the greatest game of his NRL career in the side’s 28-point win over the Dragons on Saturday, but fans were divided over a moment where he faked a leg injury before setting up a try.

Manu, who has spent much of his 131-game Roosters career in the centres, was superlative at five-eighth; scoring two tries, setting up two others, running for almost 200 metres as well as making three line-breaks.

One of those line-breaks has come under scrutiny, with Manu appearing to fake a leg injury or a cramp, before scorching through the Dragons defence and setting up a try.

Commentators were split as to whether he did in fact have a cramp or faking it – but either way they were incredulous at what they had just seen. 

With just 10 minutes to go in the game, Manu got the ball 35 metres out from the Roosters try line, before stopping and clutching the back of his leg, which caused the defence to stop.

He then sprinted through a gap between Dragons defenders Billy Burns and Blake Lawrie, bust through a Moses Mbye tackle and put through a superbly-weighted grubber for Paul Momirovski, who scored.

Paul Momirovski scores a try from Joseph Manu’s grubber in the Roosters win on Saturday

One fan asked ‘is Manu’s fake cramp the most unsportsmanlike play in NRL history?’ while another believed even if it was fake, the defenders should have ‘played to the whistle.’ 

‘Oh no the knee, wait, Manu, well what’s he done there? He’s sold the dummy with a knee injury, it’s a fake knee injury that has set up a try for Momirovski,’ Fox League commentator Andrew Voss cried as the moment unfolded.

‘We’ve all come to a stop, the doctor’s almost out there and Manu has taken off to set up the try.’ 

Joseph Manu (centre) bursts through the tackle of Moses Mbye (number 14) after faking an injury before setting up a try for Roosters centre Paul Momirovski

Joseph Manu (centre) bursts through the tackle of Moses Mbye (number 14) after faking an injury before setting up a try for Roosters centre Paul Momirovski

Fellow commentator Shane Flanagan wasn’t quite so sure about whether it was a dastardly act or not.

‘I don’t know if it’s a fake injury, I think he got a cramp, he saw the space open and said ‘I have to take it, whether I’ve got a cramp or not’,’ he said on the broadcast. 

Voss, at his effervescent best, summed up the moment with great vigour.

‘What a beauty, Manu the cramp, the fibber, then takes off to set up the try,’ he laughed. 

Joseph Manu (centre) was superlative for the Roosters in their dominant win over St George

Joseph Manu (centre) was superlative for the Roosters in their dominant win over St George

Manu himself admitted there may have been a bit of ‘foxing’ going on before the try. 

‘My calf has been a bit tight for the last few weeks, but it was just a bit of carry on too,’ he said after the game. 

Fans were divided over whether it was clever or poor form.

‘Disgraceful sportsmanship’ one Twitter user wrote, while another posted it was ‘shameful conduct’ before one wrote the act was ‘wildly against the spirit of the game.’ 

Even the official Dragons account got in on the action, calling it ‘boy who called wolf stuff.’ 

Joseph Manu (left) celebrates with his halves partner Sam Walker (right)

Joseph Manu (left) celebrates with his halves partner Sam Walker (right)

Some though said it was ‘brilliant’ while another dismissed the concerns, calling Manu ‘one of the fairest, most decent and most respected players in the game.’ 

Many also raised the legitimate concerns that faking an injury could then lead to players who are actually injured being tackled, and hurt further, because defenders may be in two minds about whether it is real or not. 

For others, the ‘poor sportsmanship’ reminded them of another on-field act that has caused great debate in the footy community – NSW player Jarome Luai standing over an unconscious Selwyn Cobbo in a spiteful moment during Queensland win.

It sparked an all-in melee with Queensland players fuming over Luai’s conduct, though the man himself has denied he did the wrong thing. 

Queensland players get stuck into Jarome Luai in Wednesday night's Origin game

Queensland players get stuck into Jarome Luai in Wednesday night’s Origin game

Many fans believed if another player had committed the act it would have caused far more outrage.

One even went so far as to write Luai and Manu ‘killed the spirit of rugby league’, similar to a tweeter who commented: ‘people would be furious if Latrell (Mitchell) did that.’ 

Roosters fans probably won’t care in the slightest though, such was the dominance Manu showed in the five-eighth jersey.

The powerful utility was filling in for an injured Luke Keary alongside boom youngster Sam Walker – and it will create quite the headache when the former is able to return.

Manu put in a similarly exceptional performance when fullback for New Zealand earlier in the season, running for a remarkable 401 metres against Tonga. 

Joseph Manu makes a break for New Zealand, one of 401 metres he made for the game

Joseph Manu makes a break for New Zealand, one of 401 metres he made for the game

After the game, Trent Robinson said he was ‘lucky’ to be able to coach such talented superstars like Manu.

‘I’m really lucky to coach guys like ‘Teddy’ (fullback James Tedesco) and Joey (Manu),’ he said.

‘You don’t have to coach them much at all. They know the game better than you. You have to create an environment so they can perform, that’ll all our job is.’



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