‘Mum was blowing up’: Manu family’s Munster feud
While Roosters centre Joseph Manu says he has no ongoing beef with Storm playmaker Cam Munster, his mum, aunties - in fact his whole family - refuse to forget the infamous grand final moment.
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Joseph Manu says he has no ongoing beef with Cameron Munster, the Melbourne superstar who once tried to kick his head off.
But as for his mum, Darnel?
“Oh, she was blowing up,” the Roosters centre cackled this week. “Same with my aunties.
“Actually my whole family was pretty angry.
“Out on the field I was a bit angry as well. But not for long because, you know, it was just a little kick to the head.”
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When it comes to the most bizarre of NRL grand final moments, few are more unforgettable — or inexplicable — than Munster using those dying moments of the 2018 decider to attack Manu's melon like it were a stationary soccer ball.
Thwack.
In the process, making history as the first bloke ever sin binned twice in a GF.
And now on Saturday at the SCG, they square off again.
This time, with Mrs Manu watching on from the crowd alongside husband Nooroa.
And why not?
Especially right now, with her boy being hailed the best centre anywhere in rugby league.
But as for what the incumbent New Zealand Test ace makes of the hype?
“I haven’t heard that said,” Manu shrugged.
You haven’t?
“Nah, I’ve been off social media the last few weeks,” he continued of the world’s best tag. “So I haven’t heard anything really.
“And I’m not too worried about what other people say anyway.
“There’s so many great centres in the NRL. I mean, we’ve got one right here at our club — Latrell Mitchell.
“I rate him one of the best centres in the competition.
“And there’s plenty out there.
“Like the guy I’m marking up against on Saturday night, Justin Olam. I’ve only played him the once but he's short, nuggety, typical PNG boy.
“He’s built real low to the ground, but quick and with great skill. So it’s hard to get underneath him.
“They’ll also have Munster on that side too. And he’s always definitely one to watch.”
But as for Manu himself holding onto any grand final grudges?
“The whole thing wasn’t actually too bad,” he insisted of the kick. “I wasn’t too sore.
“It’s actually funny because, out on the field, I was thinking ‘did he really just kick me?’
“So it wasn’t that bad.
“Just weird.”
While the Roosters eventually triumphed 21-6 to claim the NRL title, Munster copped a grade one dangerous conduct charge, took the early guilty plea, then escaped with a $1400 fine.
Likely apologised too, right?
“I’m sure he did,” Manu said. “But I can’t really remember.
“Afterwards, I was buzzing so much I didn’t really care about someone saying sorry.
“But I think he did apologise, yeah.
“And he was just frustrated, that’s all.”